Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, November 4, 1995 TAG: 9511060035
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: KENNETH SINGLETARY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FLOYD LENGTH: Medium
Acrimony has not entered into the campaigning in this rural county, political leaders say. Indeed, many of the races for constitutional offices are not contested, and of those that do have more than one contender, the candidates have been restrained.
Voter interest has been low-key, too. At two candidates' forums held in October, only a handful of voters turned out. Even some of the candidates were no-shows.
"I think it's been fussing by people about general things that affect them. Other than that there's no rallying point that everybody's out in the streets and roads about," said Ann Jones, the county Democratic chairwoman.
The Republican chairman, Gene Bishop, agrees. "I think it's more or less been a person-to-person campaign," in which candidates have gone door-to-door, he said. "They've all run positive, professional campaigns."
Three people have stepped forward to replace Sheriff Tom Higgins, who is not running for re-election. Republican Donnie Pratt is chief deputy and a 13-year veteran in the Sheriff's Office. His opponents are Democrat Elmer Underwood, a cattle farmer, and Independent Leonard Howell, a patrol officer with the Hillsville Police Department and a former Floyd County deputy.
In a county with little crime, no galvanizing issue has surfaced in the sheriff's race. The candidates are running on their experience, and each has promised to respond quickly to residents' needs.
Three candidates are running for the supervisor seat for District C in the town of Floyd. Jerry Wayne Booth, a carpenter and first-term supervisor, is the Democratic incumbent. He is challenged by Republican Kirby Harris, a former nine-year member of Town Council, and Independent William Hayden, a former member of the board and captain of the rescue squad.
Edsel Duncan, a first-term Democrat who is retired from Mohawk Rubber, is running for re-election for District D in Indian Valley. His opponent is Republican Gary Gillespie, a member of the Planning Commission and owner of Bob's Radio and TV.
The other races for the Board of Supervisors are uncontested. Republicans David Igram in District A in Locust Grove, James Thornton in District B in Little River and Donald Linkous in District D in Burks Fork are the incumbents
Though the campaigning for the board has been characterized mostly by roadside signs and newspaper advertisements, a few issues have cropped up.
The new $6 monthly environmental fee the board passed in the spring still has some people angry. The fee will help pay for the county landfill, which was closed because of state mandates. Residents outside the town have used green boxes since then.
Bishop said the environmental fee may need some "fine tuning." Some people generate more trash than others, he said, while others are on fixed incomes.
Also soon on the supervisors' plate will be the task finding a replacement for County Administrator Randy Arno, who is taking a job in Danville.
Three of the five seats on the School Board are contested. Clay Link is running in District A and is opposed by write-in candidate Ed Gralla. David Sulzen and Cheryl B. Whitlock-Allen are vying for the District B seat, while Margaret Hubbard and Marie Lathem Mathis are candidates in District D.
Howard Cundiff is running in District C, and Douglas Phillips in running in District E. School Board candidates not allowed to identify themselves with a political party.
Technology in the schools and family-life education have been mentioned by the candidates, but no issue has captured the debate.
In other uncontested races, Republican Gino Williams is running for re-election as commonwealth's attorney, Republican Magdelene Goad is the candidate for commissioner of revenue, and Republican Deronda Thomas is the candidate for treasurer.
Keywords:
POLITICS
Memo: ***CORRECTION***