Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 26, 1992 TAG: 9202260299
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER MUNICIPAL WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
PARTY LEADERS BELIEVE COUNCIL SLATE'S A WINNER
It doesn't fit the image of a typical Republican ticket for City Council, but GOP leaders think it will be a winning combination.The Republican slate selected at a mass meeting Tuesday night consists of two women and a black community leader.
Councilwoman Elizabeth Bowles, Beverly Lambert and Delvis "Mac" McCadden are the nominees.
Bowles, a retired bake-shop owner, is seeking her fifth term. Lambert and McCadden are making their first tries for public office, but both are familiar with city government.
Lambert is a legislative aide to state Del. Steve Agee, R-Salem, and has been active in the PTA and other community organizations. McCadden is a district sales manager for USAir and a member of several city boards and commissions.
GOP leaders believe the ticket has the geographical and political balance that will be needed against the Democratic slate of Councilman Beverly Fitzpatrick Jr., Renee Anderson and James Trout.
"We have the makings of a winning ticket," said former Councilman Robert Garland, who nominated Bowles.
Garland thinks the entire GOP slate - including Willis "Wick" Anderson, the mayoral candidate - has a good chance of victory.
The Republicans hope to get a boost in their campaign from Mayor Noel Taylor, who didn't make it to the mass meeting because of a conflict with a reception to honor retiring city workers. Anderson told the Republicans that Taylor will endorse the ticket.
The mass meeting attracted 69 registered voters. GOP officials said they were encouraged by the turnout.
Republican leaders indicate they prefer running against Bowers rather than Vice Mayor Howard Musser, who has left open the possibility that he might run as an independent. But that is more unlikely now that the GOP has nominated Anderson.
Gary Bowman, chairman of the city Republican Committee, said Anderson can beat Bowers because "most people in the city are not members of a faction."
Bowman predicted that just because Bowers has union support, it doesn't follow he automatically has the support of all working-class voters.
"The primary interest of working-class people is just good government. David Bowers' primary interest is not good government. His primary interest is self-aggrandizement," he said.
Bowman cites the experience factor. "David Bowers is a wanna-be mayor and Wick has already been mayor."
He said one issue "certainly is that he [Bowers] made deals with city employees" for his nomination.
"When candidates for mayor have cut deals with groups of city employees, such as firefighters, that doesn't bode well," Bowman said.
Keywords:
POLITICS