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

DATE: TUESDAY, June 12, 1990                   TAG: 9006120156
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Medium

BARRY REFUSES TO VOICE PLANS

Marion Barry has made a firm decision to abandon his re-election plans but has put off an announcement for several days in an angry reaction to pressure from Jesse Jackson and others, sources close to the mayor said Monday.

Barry had planned to make his decision public Monday night in hopes of restarting stalled plea-bargain talks as jury selection continued in his drug possession and perjury trial, the sources said.

However, a scheduled interview on a local television program was canceled, Barry press spokeswoman Cheryl Crowell said.

More meetings with campaign officials are in the planning stages, but the mayor is now expected to announce his decision later this week, one Barry aide said.

The embattled mayor met with about a dozen top advisers and fund-raisers Sunday night to discuss his political future.

The aide, who attended the meeting and described it only on condition of anonymity, said Barry was clear in telling the group he would not seek a fourth term.

"He was resolute, as firm as he could be," said the aide. "With him, he can always change his mind, but he's pretty far down the road."

Barry is delaying making the announcement because of pressure from Jackson, from District Delegate Walter Fauntroy - who is a candidate to succeed Barry as mayor - and from others who have urged him publicly to drop out of the race, the sources said.

"There have been some intrusive parties, Jesse and others," one source said. "The man wants to act on his own, without seeming to be pushed around."

The mayor has pleaded innocent to 10 misdemeanor cocaine-possession charges, one misdemeanor cocaine-conspiracy charge, and three felony counts of lying to a grand jury about his alleged drug use.

Plea discussions, which started more than two weeks ago, broke down last week with U.S. Attorney Jay B. Stephens insisting that Barry plead guilty to a felony charge and the mayor willing to consider only a misdemeanor plea, sources familiar with the situation have said.

The talks have not revolved around Barry's re-election plans, the sources said. Judy Smith, a spokeswoman for Stephens, was not immediately available for comment.

A guilty plea to any of the perjury charges probably would result in Barry drawing a prison term under federal sentencing guidelines. In that event, he could not continue to hold office or run for re-election.

Barry did not respond to questions about whether he intended to announce he would not seek re-election.

by CNB