A Suffolk native and small business owner is one of the four people running for the Whaleyville Borough on City Council this year.

LaTroy Brinkley said Suffolk is already a great place, but he wants to help make it better.

“I just see a lot of things we can do differently in the city … better what we already have,” Brinkley said. “I think I can make a great improvement, and there’s a lot of things I think I’m bringing to the table.”

Brinkley graduated from Lakeland High School and earned a political science degree from Virginia State University. But he soon returned to his true passion — hair.

He worked at The Chop Shop downtown before opening his own salon, Serendipity, about five years ago.

Brinkley also is a commissioner on the Suffolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority and on the Suffolk Clean Community Commission. He previously served on the Substance Abuse and Youth Council.

Brinkley said he went into his campaign without an agenda and decided just to listen to the people. As he has done so, several areas of concern have emerged — education, economic development and public safety.

“We need more transparency between council and School Board as far as budget is concerned,” Brinkley said.

He said more adequate schools and better technology in the downtown area are a major concern.

“Technology has changed,” he said. “The older schools don’t have what the newer schools have. There should be a balance.”

Citizens in his borough also want economic development, but balanced with the rural nature of much of the Whaleyville Borough. They want some accessibility to restaurants, grocery shopping and entertainment without giving up their quality of life.

“We need to regain control of that,” Brinkley said. “We all need to sit down and come up with a plan.”

Brinkley said he has spent a lot of time educating citizens on the process of bringing a restaurant or store, for example, to town.

“A lot of people don’t know how it works,” he said.

Brinkley also said most citizens he has talked to are pleased with public safety.

“Our crime rate is really down, which is good,” he said, adding he will put forth effort to keep it that way.

Overall, Brinkley said he is looking forward to helping Suffolk grow.

“It’s already a great place,” he said. “Suffolk is wonderful. I want to see what I can do.”