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

DATE: FRIDAY, April 27, 1990                   TAG: 9004300199
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A14   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

NO RUBBER STAMPS FOR CITY COUNCIL

ACCORDING to the Rational Ignorance theory in public-choice economics, people have little incentive to research the issues but rely heavily on what the candidates tell them, or on materials that are easily accessible. They know that one vote won't make a difference.

Therefore, in local elections people are less likely to vote. They do not realize that of all the choices we are allowed to make in our society, nothing affects us more than our City Council. It makes decisions that directly affect our safety and our future.

In our last council election, 24 votes made a difference. That difference affected the composition of our School Board, thus giving our school superintendent free rein, and a salary that is unheard-of, especially when compared to results.

That difference affected our relationship with one businessman to the point where the people may as well not have the right to vote! Anything he recommends, the four horsemen of our City Council support, without question or thought to our needs or wishes.

It is time to elect members of our City Council. Let us elect those who represent us in a thoughtful, caring and intelligent manner, not those who rubber-stamp the wishes of special-interest groups.

Please remember that it takes four votes on our council to make the difference. Currently the people only have two votes: David Bowers and Howard Musser. This election let's give them the help they need to get the job done for us. Let's re-elect Musser and let's add Jim Harvey and Bill White!

\ BONNIE S. STEELE\ ROANOKE

by CNB