Julian Mei is a face many voters will know from real estate. He has now decided to take his first foray into politics with goals for open communication. He envisions a prosperous city, with grievances given the attention they deserve.
Mei, 43, works for Berry-Elliott Realtors. He also has a history in the entertainment and hospitality industry and obtained a degree in graphic design. He worked in fashion design and lived in New York before eventually coming home to Martinsville. He currently serves on the Arts and Culture Committee and pursues other interests.
Mei said he considered running in the previous election.
“I had thought about it two years ago, and I wasn’t quite ready yet. There was so much volatility in the last election,” he said, adding he attributed that to a combination of personalities, reversion, and anxiety over a new potential administration.
Mei said he wanted to feel prepared before his first run, but two years ago, “I didn’t feel knowledgeable enough about a lot of subjects.”
He said he decided to run this year because he feels people needed a voice.
“I’ve been working for a long time to get Martinsville to appeal to the accomplishments of its locals, but also to people from outside of the community,” Mei said, adding that residents bring with them “not just their physical selves, but also their experience.”
He said he feels newcomers don’t feel sure how to “get engaged” in the community, and “that Martinsville’s old identity is blending with its new identity.”
Mei said that he gets feedback from others, and “a majority is positive, I don’t get a lot of complaints.” The biggest things he feels voters have asked for are keeping the city safe, clean, and continuing on the trajectory towards prosperity.
He loves the growth that Uptown has received and believes that the continued expansion “is the key to unlocking the full potential of this community.” He believes it’s important to have a central hub that can attract new community members, and that having shops within walking distance of housing is a big attraction for the younger generation.
“Martinsville is a destination for people trying to get away from the congestion and the hustle and bustle of dense metropolitan living,” Mei said.
He also vowed to stand with residents on various issues.
“I will take any concerns very seriously,” Mei said, noting that he addressed flaws in the city’s notification system during a recent council meeting.
He praised crews with the city’s Water Resources Department who worked on the water main break as well as city workers in the Electric Department, who he said always “quickly restore service.”
However, he thinks work remains to be done on the city’s infrastructure.
“We need to make sure that we generate revenue to be able to compensate for infrastructure concerns, but not by way of overtaxing the citizens,” Mei said, and noted that MiNet, which provides premium internet to residents and others, is a great revenue-generating service.
Mei supports the city’s law enforcement officers and says that he’s heard nothing but “rave reviews” about the officers in Martinsville Police Chief Rob Fincher’s department, as well as those working in Martinsville Sheriff Steve Draper’s office.
“My one concern about the police officers is the amount of domestic violence that will happen in the parking lot of bars and restaurants. I feel like there could be an increased presence in some of those locations throughout the city,” Mei said.
After attending city schools and graduating from Martinsville High School, “I am 100 percent behind our students and our teachers. Our best hope for our future is that children are equipped with the skills and education to enter the world, excel, and, if inclined, bring some of the fruits of their adult experiences back to their homes,” Mei said.
He wants to ensure the school division is “getting the resources they need, without over taxing the residents,” and would work to ensure safety at businesses open during the late night hours.
Mei encouraged voters to “remain optimistic about our city’s trajectory. We are doing really well. It’s getting bigger and better and stronger all the time.”
He also added that even if he loses in November, he will continue serving in volunteer roles to help the city grow.
