By Mary Carr Lee, Mayors Innovation Project
As Leslie Hager-Smith’s tenure as Mayor of Blacksburg winds down, she leaves behind a town that feels both fundamentally transformed and fiercely protected. After eight years of public service, Hager-Smith is preparing to step down on December 31st, marking the end of an era defined by a delicate balancing act: managing the meteoric growth of a global land-grant university while safeguarding the soul of a small Appalachian town. Her legacy is not just one of policy and infrastructure, but of “place-making”—the intentional creation of a community that is as sustainable as it is welcoming.
A “Friendly Standoff” with Progress
The central theme of Hager-Smith’s career has been the complex relationship between the Town of Blacksburg and Virginia Tech. Over four decades, the university has expanded aggressively, co-opting key arteries like College Avenue and Sanger Street. For many leaders, this could have sparked a zero-sum conflict. For Hager-Smith, it was a friendly standoff. “We had a new university administration arrive in 2014 and they decided their goal was to grow the university to 30,000 students. But we only have 45,000 people in Blacksburg. So our population is two-thirds students. It’s not sustainable and it will be a problem,” says the mayor.
Yet rather than resisting the university’s growth, she focused on integration. By recognizing Virginia Tech as the region’s primary economic engine, Hager-Smith leveraged its research and tourism to bolster the town’s economy, while simultaneously fighting to ensure that “townies” and long-term residents weren’t pushed to the margins.
Sustainability: From Grassroots to Governance
Long before “green” was a buzzword in municipal planning, Hager-Smith was laying the groundwork for a sustainable future. Her legacy is perhaps most visible in the environmental DNA of the town. As a co-founder of Sustainable Blacksburg, she helped transition a grassroots movement into a professionalized arm of local government, complete with a full-time Director of Sustainability.
Under her watch, Blacksburg moved beyond simple recycling programs to tackle more complex challenges, such as implementing green burials in the traditional cemetery and advocating for backyard chickens. She recognized that while state-level regulations often limit a town’s power over energy sources, local leaders can still foster a culture of conservation. This commitment earned Blacksburg a place on numerous “best of” lists, highlighting its clean water, moderate climate, and status as an ideal place to raise children.
The Human Scale: Place-Making and Charm
If sustainability was the town’s skeleton, charm was its heartbeat. Hager-Smith’s leadership style was deeply rooted in the concept of place-making—creating physical spaces that encourage human connection. Her fingerprints are on the Summer Solstice Fest, the expansion of bicycle lanes, and the popularization of open-air dining.
The most whimsical yet profound symbol of her tenure is the “16 Frogs” project. These bronze sculptures scattered throughout town serve as a reminder of the freshwater springs that lie beneath Blacksburg’s pavement, connecting the modern town to its ecological roots. Furthermore, her push for a new pedestrian mall and the revitalization of the town’s core reflects a philosophy that a town’s success is measured by the quality of its public life.
Navigating the Winds of Change
The mayor’s tenure was not without its trials. She led through the harrowing aftermath of the 2008 Virginia Tech mass shooting and navigated the increasingly fractured landscape of social media and partisan politics. In an age where public discourse has grown increasingly sharp, Hager-Smith maintained a leadership style that was collaborative and not invested in old resentments. “We have stuck with this allegiance to making a space in Blacksburg for everyone, for everyone who wishes to be here young and old, people of all types, people of all ages. I’ve worked hard to tap community resources so that we can be a welcoming town for all,” says Hager-Smith.
She championed workforce housing, recognizing that for a town to be healthy, its police officers, teachers, and service workers must be able to afford to live there. By partnering with nonprofits and establishing a land trust, she moved Blacksburg toward a future where “affordable housing” is a reality rather than a slogan.
Passing the Torch
As Mayor Hager-Smith prepares to leave office, she measures her success not in headlines but in whether “the larger community is being served.” She is most proud of a legacy rooted in making room for everyone even amid growth she cannot fully control. Handing the reins to Vice Mayor Michael Sutphin, she steps into retirement looking forward to spending time with eight grandchildren. She leaves behind a town still wrestling with the university’s shadow, but also with a clearer sense of Blacksburg’s inclusive, sustainable future that she’s cultivated over her tenure.