ROANOKE TIMES

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 14, 1990                   TAG: 9003142876
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-3   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: DAVID M. POOLE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BOONES MILL                                 LENGTH: Medium


BALLOT NOT LACKING NAMES IN BOONES MILL THIS TIME

The biggest question in recent municipal elections was not who would win, but whether there would be enough candidates on the ballot.

Not this year.

Seven candidates are vying for the six seats on Town Council and two candidates are running for mayor. The election is scheduled for May 1.

"I'm tickled to death that there are people taking an interest in the town," said council member W. Dale Fisher.

The mayoral race pits incumbent Juanita Wray Murray against former Councilman Steven Wayne Palmer.

Murray, 63, was appointed to serve as mayor last March after the resignation of then-Mayor Frances McNeil. A member of Town Council since 1986, Murray points to the hiring of a part-time town police officer and the signing of a cable television franchise as achievements of her tenure.

Palmer, 41, was appointed to serve one year on Town Council in the early 1980s. An electrician, Palmer said he would like council to rewrite the business license tax to make sure it did not discourage new companies from locating in town.

Town Council candidates are:

Martha "Marti" Boyer, 36, a telemarketing sales representative for the Roanoke Times & World-News.

John Richard Breen, 44, the former owner of Raceway Restaurant who moved to town two years ago from upstate New York.

John Anthony Cooper, 40, a copy machine technician who has served on Town Council since 1982.

Fisher, 40, an insurance sales agent who is seeking his fifth term on council.

Donna M. Guthrie, 50, an English teacher at Franklin County High School in Rocky Mount.

Maurice Clifton Turner, 47, an employee of the Norfolk Southern payroll department seeking his fifth term on council.

Charles D. Wright, 48, a salesman for White Tire Distributor in Roanoke.



 by CNB