Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 16, 1994 TAG: 9403160120
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DWAYNE YANCEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The three Republican candidates for City Council - who last week said they opposed a ward system - conceded Tuesday they would be willing to put the matter to a referendum.
With the four Democratic candidates for council already on record in favor of a referendum, a majority of the next City Council - no matter who wins the May 3 council elections - now backs letting voters decide the issue.
The three Republican candidates declared their willingness to support a referendum during a question-and-answer session Tuesday night before the Peoples' Voters League, a black voters' group.
But all of the candidates - businessman John Voit, construction engineer John Parrott and planning commissioner and South Roanoke neighborhood activist Barbara Duerk - quickly said they would campaign against the ward system in such a referendum.
All gave the same answer to why they would vote to send to a referendum something they personally oppose: It's time for voters to decide.
"The people need to hear the discussion that City Council would have," Duerk said.
"We've been beating this thing around, and if people are determined, then put it to a referendum and clear the air," Voit said.
The Democratic council candidates passed up a chance to needle the Republicans for backing a referendum, although one Democrat in attendance at the meeting who is not on the ballot this May voiced his approval at the way sentiment on the issue was swinging his way.
"It looks like it's a go," said Mayor David Bowers.
Historically, black voters' groups across the South have argued that at-large elections make it difficult for black candidates to win in majority-white cities such as Roanoke.
Indeed, in Roanoke it has been the NAACP, led by the Rev. Charles Green, that has pushed hardest in recent years for the ward system - or, more precisely, a "modified ward system" in which some council members would still be elected citywide.
Green was delighted Tuesday to hear that all seven candidates in the May election now support a referendum - which he said could be held as early as this November.
Two years ago, City Council voted 5-2 to keep the current election system, saying it hasn't prevented blacks from winning election to council and instead insures that council candidates must be responsive to all sections of the city.
Green said the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People's "persistence" since then helped bring this year's crop of candidates around to his side of the issue.
"We didn't just bring it up and drop it," he said.
Green also pointed out "there are other ways to bring it up without going through council. We could go to court. We could go to the General Assembly."
But Green pledged that if voters turned down the ward system, he wouldn't take legal action.
"I have no complaints if they vote it down," he said.
by CNB