Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, February 22, 1992 TAG: 9202240200
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
MASS MEETING
CHOICE is perhaps too rational a word to describe the process by which a mass meeting this morning will produce Roanoke's Democratic mayoral and city council nominations. Somehow, though, choices will be made.This rendezvous with destiny upon them, Roanokers may ask themselves: Is the meeting a big deal, or what?
Regarding the mayoral nomination, the "what" side has these points:
Both candidates - Vice Mayor Howard Musser and City Councilman David Bowers - are familiar figures, having served on council a number of years. They agree on most issues: attracting more "jobs," reopening Hotel Roanoke, keeping tax rates down - that sort of thing.
Another candidate may join the race. If Republican Willis Anderson, former mayor, runs, the final decision would come in the general election.
The titular head of a weak-mayor form of government doesn't wield much clout anyway.
So those who prefer their politics less up-close-and-personal may choose to stay far from today's madding crowd. Better to avoid communion with the multitudes pulled from their homes and scooped off streets to swell the contenders' loyal legions.
There remains, though, the other side - the possibility that the mass meeting is a big deal. Because we define ourselves by the decisions we make, this view is the more compelling.
Sure, mayoral elections come and go. But Roanoke hasn't seen a serious contest in 16 years. Noel Taylor's retirement this year opens, for good or ill, a new era in city government.
Sure, the mayor's is a $15,000 job that mostly entails presiding over council and performing ceremonial duties. But the post isn't inconsequential. The city manager runs the city, but a mayor can help provide leadership. He also can create contention and difficulty.
Sure, Musser and Bowers generally agree on the issues. But precisely because the mayor is accorded so little constitutional authority, style of leadership becomes more important. That their styles differ is a point the candidates themselves emphasize: Musser saying he's a team player who wants to play a quiet, responsible role; Bowers offering no apologies for his high-profile boat-rocking populism.
Sure, a Republican may join the race. But the meeting of the city's majority party could prove decisive anyway. And, again, three unheralded but important city council nominations also will be made. Each mayoral candidate has allies among the council aspirants. The non-mayoral nominations could prove as important as the mayoral to Roanoke's future.
A relative few among us will participate in today's meeting, but the choices made will help define our polity nonetheless. Roanoke will be, among other things, the city that for its mayor chose -----. Those who don't attend today will be relying on those who do to begin filling in the blank.