Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, April 30, 1990 TAG: 9004300417
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER MUNICIPAL WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The campaign for the council seats has been angry and partisan at times. It has focused more on personalities - including the candidates' qualifications and records - than issues.
The proposed bond issue, which would include money for the renovation of the old Jefferson High School into an arts-education center and a flood-reduction project on Peters Creek, has produced no controversy or debate.
The polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. The weather forecast for Tuesday is partly sunny with a high around 80. Alton Prillaman, secretary of the city Electoral Board, expects more voters will go to the polls on Tuesday than in the past two council elections when fewer than 30 percent of the registered voters cast ballot.
"It could be 35 to 45 percent because we have six candidates for three seats and the Democrats have a ticket," Prillaman said today, but he stressed this was only a guess.
This would be far lower than the election for governor last November when 70 percent of the registered voters cast ballots, but the turnout in council elections is traditionally much lower than gubernatorial and presidential elections.
The Democratic ticket includes Councilman Howard Musser, School Board member William White and former Councilman James Harvey. The other candidates are: Roland Macher, a Republican; Councilman James Trout, a Democrat who is running as an independent; and the Rev. Cecil McClanahan, an independent.
Registrar Sharon Carrington said the city has 39,181 registered voters for Tuesday's election, down several hundred from last November's governor's race.
If Tuesday's election is as close as the last council election two years ago, the turnout could be decisive. In 1988, only 24 votes separated Councilwoman Elizabeth Bowles and Harvey, who is trying to make a comeback this year.
Carrington said 150 voters have applied for absentee ballots this year. Two years ago, there were 154 absentee ballots, but only 82 in 1986.
Salem and Vinton also have council elections Tuesday, but there are no contests in either locality.
In Salem, Councilmen W. "Mac" Green and Carl "Sonny" Tarpley are unopposed. In Vinton, Councilmen Roy McCarty and Donald Davis are unopposed.
Two years ago, 29.1 percent of the registered voters cast ballots when three council members and the mayor's job were up for election. There were only four candidates for three seats and Mayor Noel Taylor was unopposed.
Four years ago, only 17.5 percent of the registered voters went to the polls to fill three council seats from four candidates.
The largest turnout in recent council elections was in 1984 when 42 percent of the registered voters cast ballot in a contest for the mayor's position in addition to three council seats.
In this year's campaign, The Democratic candidates have stressed their experience and political philosophies during the campaign. They have promised to take a balanced approach to spending and taxes.
Musser, seeking a third term, said he's running on his record that includes support for economic development, tax cuts, improved basic services such as fire and police protection and better pension benefits for city workers,
It is White's first try for elected office, but he said he has been preparing himself for a council seat in the past decade. He is a former member of the city Economic Development Commission, the city Industrial Revenue Bond Authority and the Virginia Health Services Cost Review Commission.
White thinks his background as a School Board member would be valuable on council because the school budget accounts for more than 40 percent of the overall city budget.
Harvey says council has lost touch with city residents in the past two years.
That's one reason he is trying to make a political comeback this year and return to council. Harvey, a councilman from 1980 to 1988, said council has "gradually moved away from the trust and mutual understanding we developed with our citizens during the 1980s."
Trout, chairman of the city's Economic Development Commission, has based his campaign mainly on his support for economic development and schools. Trout, a councilman for 16 of the past 22 years, has cited his record in helping to oversee the development of the Roanoke Centre for Industry and Technology and creation of 1,400 jobs in the 300-acre industrial park off U. S. 460.
Macher, a businessman who hadn't been affiliated with either political party before he got into the race, said he wants to preserve the two-party system on council.
Republican Robert Garland is not seeking another term after 24 years as a councilman, and Macher wants the Republicans not to lose seats on council.
Macher, who is making his first try for public office, said he would provide a new direction for the city.
McClanahan has focused his campaign on what he describes as the growth of satanic cults and the moral decay of the city and nation.
The $15.2 million bond issue on Tuesday's ballot includes:
$3.5 million for the conversion of the old Jefferson High School into a center for the performing arts, education and civic organizations.
$4 million for schools to remove asbestos from school buildings, replace heating systems in four schools and develop plans for modernizing six schools.
$4 million for a flood reduction project for Peters Creek.
$2.7 million for storm drains for Statesman Industrial Park and $860,000 for storm drains in downtown in the vicinity of Luck Avenue and Church Avenue.
$150,000 for the city's share of the cost for three highway projects.
City officials said the bond issue would not require an increase in taxes. The normal growth in tax revenues will provide enough money to pay off the bonds without the need to increase tax rates, said city Finance Director Joel Schlanger. The city's payments on prior bond issues will also begin to drop in 1994, he said, freeing up funds that can be used to help pay off the new bond issue.
by CNB