Anita Priceâs biggest strength on the campaign trail became obvious pretty quickly to Roanoke Mayor Sherman Lea: she knew just about everybody.
When Price and Lea campaigned together in neighborhoods and at political events, Price often greeted supporters whom she had taught during her days as a Roanoke schoolteacher.
âThe times we were campaigning together, she would say, âI taught this person in school ⦠and I also knew their parents when they were in school,â Lea recalled.
âShe knew generations of family. She was very popular.â
Price turned from a career as an educator to politics in 2008, when she was first elected to Roanokeâs city council. In 2016 she became the first Black woman to serve as the cityâs vice mayor.