
During his two terms on Staunton City Council from 2012 to 2020, Erik worked collaboratively with colleagues to provide citizens with local government that was open, transparent and responsive. He also stood out from other local officials in bringing new ideas to solve some of Staunton’s biggest problems and to keep the city moving forward. Highlights of Erik’s initiatives include:
- Envisioned and established our current program for outdoor dining on Beverley Street on weekends
- Enabled the Farmers Market to reopen during pandemic restrictions in 2020
- Legalized backyard chickens
- Established an official Arts and Culture District downtown
- Led Staunton’s successful opposition to the dangerous Atlantic Coast Pipeline that would have transported fracked natural gas through the catchment of the city’s water supply

- Raised Staunton’s profile as a tourism destination, boosting the local economy, bringing in tax revenues from visitors and increasing quality of life for citizens
- With then Vice Mayor Ophie Kier and the African American community, renamed a bridge on Richmond Road after the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Convened citizen advisory committees for local food and bicycle/pedestrian planning