BOWERS SHIFTS THE PRESSURE

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

DATE: SUNDAY, February 16, 1992                   TAG: 9202160073
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: D-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER MUNICIPAL WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium
BOWERS SHIFTS THE PRESSURE
Roanoke City Councilman David Bowers won't press Vice Mayor Howard Musser for a public pledge of support if Bowers wins the Democratic party nomination for mayor.
Bowers told the party's executive committee Saturday that he takes his party loyalty seriously. And he pledged to support all of the party's nominees, including Musser, if he gets the Democrats' nod.
But Bowers said the mayor's post and the campaign are too important to be sidetracked by a party-loyalty issue.
Bowers said he will focus on other issues, such as economic development and jobs, in the final week before the Democrats' mass meeting to pick its candidates for mayor and city council in the May election.
Saturday's filing deadline passed without any additional candidates. In addition to the two mayoral hopefuls, the Democrats have six candidates for three council seats: Renee Anderson, Councilman Beverly Fitzpatrick Jr., Steven Goodwin, Ted Key, James Trout and the Rev. J. Eugene Young.
Earlier in the week, Bowers raised the loyalty issue. He said he had heard that Musser had told some people he might run as an independent if he didn't win the Democratic nomination. Musser called the story a campaign ploy.
Bowers said he would ask the party's executive committee to require all candidates to state publicly they will support Democratic nominees. At the committee's meeting Saturday, he said he wouldn't run for mayor under any circumstances if he doesn't win the nomination.
Musser said he and Bowers signed the same statement when they filed candidacy papers. The statement reads: "I do not intend to support any candidate opposed to any Democratic nominee in the next ensuing election."
Musser said Bowers is trying to divert attention from what he said is the real issue in the campaign: who has the experience and maturity to lead the city after Noel Taylor retires.
Party leaders have urged the two to resolve their differences.
"There are going to be winners and losers, but we want the party to be united" after the mass meeting, said George McMillan, acting chair of the committee.
Keywords:
POLITICS

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB