Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, January 25, 1992 TAG: 9201250339
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By JOEL TURNER MUNICIPAL WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
MUSSER MAY RUN FOR MAYOR
In another development that indicates Roanoke Mayor Noel Taylor won't seek a new term, Vice Mayor Howard Musser has scheduled a news conference for Thursday, where he is expected to announce he will seek the mayor's post.Musser, a Democrat who has said repeatedly over the past few months that he wouldn't challenge Taylor, would say Friday only that he will announce his intentions regarding the mayor's race next week.
But sources said Musser will get into the mayoral race because Taylor is expected to announce Tuesday that he will retire in June when his current term ends.
Taylor, a Republican who has been mayor for 16 1/2 years, has said he will make a statement regarding a possible re-election bid Tuesday, but friends and supporters expect him to say he won't seek an unprecedented fifth term.
Taylor, 67, has told some people that he won't run, but he won't confirm that.
In recent weeks, Taylor has said he is seriously considering quitting, partly because of his health.
Musser, a retired finance supervisor for General Electric, has been on council for 10 years. He has led in the voting each time he has run and served as vice mayor three times.
Musser, 62, was closely affiliated with a taxpayers organization that was active in city politics in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
But he has gained support among businessmen in the recent years as he talked more about the need for a strong economic development program to help attract business and industry to create jobs for young people.
If Taylor doesn't run, Councilman James Harvey said Musser should be the Democratic nominee.
Councilman David Bowers is also seeking the party's nomination. Some party leaders fear that the fight for the nomination could cause hard feelings and hurt the party's chances in the May 5 election.
"It's definitely going to create problems for us," said one Democratic leader who didn't want to be identified. "Regardless of what happens, it's not going to help us."
Some Democrats urged Bowers to wait until Musser had the opportunity to run if Taylor retires. They think Bowers should have waited because he is younger and will have other opportunities to run for mayor.
But Bowers' supporters say he gave other potential Democratic candidates plenty of time to get into the race. Last summer, Bowers said potential candidates should make their decision known by Labor Day, but no other Democrats came forward to say they would oppose Taylor.
Republican leaders say they expect the party to have a candidate for mayor if Taylor doesn't run, but they haven't identified any potential GOP hopefuls.
The three council seats up for election this spring are held by Bowers, Elizabeth Bowles and Beverly Fitzpatrick Jr. Bowles, a Republican, has scheduled a news conference for next week to announce her decision. Fitzpatrick, a Democrat, will have a news conference Monday.
Keywords:
POLITICS