Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 5, 1991 TAG: 9103051299
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER MUNICIPAL WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Bell, a Republican, said today he is seriously considering running against Macfarlane, a Democrat who has represented the 21st Senate District for eight years. The district includes the city, Vinton and the eastern part of the county, including the Cave Spring area.
Macfarlane has not announced his plans, but he is expected to seek re-election.
An exploratory committee headed by Robert Goodlatte, a Roanoke lawyer, has been established to help gauge support for Bell.
"I've talked to a number of people about running, and others have talked to me. What they are doing in setting up the committee has my blessing," Bell said.
Goodlatte, a former chairman of the 6th District Republican Committee, said the exploratory committee will determine political and financial support for Bell.
"He is very interested and I think he would be a good candidate," Goodlatte said.
Bell, 32, is chairman of the Roanoke County Republican Committee. He is a computer sales representative for Hewlett-Packard Co. He is a graduate of Mississippi State University.
Bell has not run for public office previously, but he helped organize the citizens' petition campaign that forced a referendum on the merger of the city and county.
He was chairman of Citizens for Governmental Excellence, the group that spearheaded the petition drive, and campaigned hard for voter approval of the merger plan. He is a former president of the Roanoke Jaycees.
Bell said he became more familiar with the issues facing the Roanoke Valley during the consolidation campaign, but that isn't the only reason he is considering running for the Senate. He said he was interested in politics before he got involved in the consolidation issue.
Macfarlane, a 61-year-old motel chain operator, won the Senate seat in 1983 when he ousted Ray Garland, a Republican. He won re-election easily in 1987 when he defeated William "Ham" Flannagan with 64 percent of the vote.
Macfarlane developed a reputation as a maverick during his early years in the legislature when he was a frequent critic of Explore, the proposed 1,300-acre tourist attraction off the Blue Ridge Parkway. But he has focused on other issues in recent years and has been less outspoken on Explore.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB