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

DATE: SUNDAY, May 9, 1993                   TAG: 9305090205
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By DAVID M. POOLE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

GOP NOMINATES HOLLINS `NATIVE' FOR BOARD SEAT

Brenda Flora Wainwright drew upon her family's roots in the Hollins area Saturday to capture the Republican nomination for the Hollins District seat on the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors.

Wainwright's friends and neighbors turned out to carry her to victory over Charlie Millican in the only contested nomination at a GOP caucus at Mountain View Elementary School.

Incumbent Supervisor Lee Eddy was unopposed for the Windsor Hills District nomination. No candidate stepped forward from the Vinton District, but the party gave itself until June 8 to find a challenger for incumbent Harry Nickens, a Democrat.

Eddy urged GOP activists to focus on the Hollins District contest, where the defeat of Democrat Bob Johnson would give Republicans a 4-1 advantage on the Board of Supervisors.

Most of the 21 registered voters from the Hollins District supported Wainwright, whose family has lived in the area since the 1930s.

Millican, an Atlanta native who lives in the Bonsack area, said his last-minute decision to enter the race hurt his ability to turn out supporters.

In her acceptance speech, Wainwright said she would draw upon her experience in banking and small business to improve the county's long-range planning.

Wainwright criticized what she called "compulsive" expenditures, such as the supervisors' support last year for a $4.3 million plan that includes moving county offices to the Travelers Building off Virginia 419.

She questioned why the county bought the four-story building after spending money for improvements to the existing county office complex. "It's like there's no plan," she said.

Johnson abstained on the vote because his company, HCMF Real Estate, managed the Travelers Building and had the listing to sell it.

Johnson is expected to announce Monday that he will seek a third four-year term on the Board of Supervisors.

Wainwright, 46, is a loan officer for Eastern Fidelity Mortgage Corp. and owner of Plantation Ground Covers, a landscaping business. Her brother, Richard C. Flora, served on the Board of Supervisors from 1972-1976.

Eddy, who so far has no opposition in Windsor Hills, pledged to continue promoting "Republican principles" in county government.

Keywords:
POLITICS

by CNB