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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 14, 1990                   TAG: 9003143125
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: BEDFORD/FRANKLIN 
SOURCE: DAVID M. POOLE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BOONES MILL                                 LENGTH: Medium

ELECTION HEATS UP FOR TOWN

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.

Interest in municipal elections appears to have been sparked by recent town improvements, most notably a central sewer system, that has people talking other projects that could improve life in this Franklin County village of 300 people.

Most of the candidates in the May elections say their top priority in the next two years is improvement of the town's fitful water system. Residents here have dozens of stories about their faucets drying up or, worse, belching foul-smelling brown water.

Because of the town's limited tax base, the next mayor and council face the task of finding enough state and federal grants to replace the patchwork water system.

Another campaign issue could be the town's new business license tax. Some businessmen opposed the levy, which is based on gross receipts and is capped at $2,000.

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.

The mayor serves a two-year term and receives a $100 monthly salary.

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.

Council members serve two-year terms and receive $10 for each meeting they attend.