Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 4, 1990 TAG: 9003042015
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER MUNICIPAL WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
"Contrary to what you might hear from some sources, this team is a pro-education team," said Councilman Howard Musser.
Musser and his running mates, William White and James Harvey, highlighted their support for schools as they accepted the party's nomination for the May 1 election.
The three Democratic candidates were chosen at a mass meeting at which party unity was a main theme. Party leaders were elated that nearly 200 people attended the meeting, even though there was no contest for the nominations.
John Fishwick Jr., party chairman, said the Democrats are united behind their candidates. A rift among party leaders late last year over Fishwick's election as chairman has apparently been settled.
Councilman David Bowers, who seconded the nomination of the candidates, said the Democrats' leadership change was an "internal matter" that won't have any effect on the council campaign.
"The party is unified behind this team, no doubt about that," Bowers said.
All three candidates touched on schools and the need for a strong economic development program in their acceptance speeches.
Musser cited his efforts to get more state money for schools in his position as chairman of the Virginia Municipal League's education policy committee.
White, a School Board member for five years, said he supports a "quality education for all of our young people."
And Harvey, a former councilman who is trying to make a political comeback this year, said the city needs to address problems in the pay plan for city employees, including "certain school employees."
School officials have indicated that council will likely be asked to provide a substantial increase in local tax money for schools in the upcoming fiscal year.
Superintendent Frank Tota said earlier that the schools will need an increase of $5 million to $8 million in local funds. City Manager Robert Herbert's preliminary budget figures would provide an increase of only $2.5 million in local tax money for schools.
Musser, a retired finance supervisor at General Electric's Salem plant, defended the Democrats' record on funding for schools, even though some school officials have suggested that council has given higher priority to other city services in recent years.
In the past decade, local tax money for schools has increased by 93 percent, Musser said. In the same period, the schools' portion of the overall city budget has increased by 91 percent, he said, while the city manager's share has increased by 48 percent.
During the past 10 years, Musser and Harvey have either served together or separately on council. Before being elected to council, both were active in a taxpayers' organization that has pressed for real estate tax cuts as assessments have risen. And they have supported several tax cuts.
"We have always voted to fully fund the total budget, which included the funding of the school system," Musser said.
"When all of the dust has settled from the rhetoric about schools, one fact is first and foremost and that is that the ultimate responsibility for the education of our children lies with our very capable and learned teachers," he said.
Alluding to the challenges in the coming decade, White said the city needs to provide quality jobs for young people, services for the elderly and assistance for homeless and poor people.
"We must involve the business leadership of our city in our government, and be prepared and willing to sit with them, as peers in the board rooms to resolve matters of public interest," he said.
"We must be willing to make and accept change when necessary and have the resolve to resist change when it is not in the public interest," said White, a partner in a certified public accounting firm with offices in Roanoke and Richmond.
Harvey said the city needs to "work hard to create above-average-paying jobs that will keep our kids at home . . .."
Harvey, a pilot and council member for eight years before losing a bid for re-election by 24 votes in 1988, said council should resume neighborhood meetings to help establish a better trust and understanding with city residents.
If elected, Harvey said he will insist that the city submit all bond issues to voters in a referendum. He alluded to council's recent decision to approve a bond issue for parking facilities for the Dominion Tower project without a referendum.
Harvey also wants the city to ease the tax burden on retired homeowners whose real estate assessments keep increasing.
Alluding to the replacement of several School Board members in recent years, Harvey said council "should encourage rather than discourage individual thinking and freedom of expression on our boards and commissions."
The three council seats are now held by Musser; Robert Garland, a Republican; and James Trout, a Democrat.
Trout will resign April 1, and he said he won't seek re-election because his railroad pension will be reduced if he remains on council. Garland said he hasn't decided whether to seek a new term.
Roland Macher, a businessman who owns an antiques mall on the City Market and a chain of restaurants, will seek the GOP nomination for one of the council seats. The Republicans will choose their candidates at a mass meeting Tuesday night.
by CNB