Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, November 13, 1995 TAG: 9511130065
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DAN CASEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Almost as soon as the votes in the local state Senate race were counted Tuesday night, the campaign to fill John Edwards' seat on Roanoke City Council began.
The Rev. Carl Tinsley, former leader of the local NAACP chapter, told Mayor David Bowers during a Democratic victory party at the Radisson Patrick Henry Hotel that he'd be interested in the appointment.
On Wednesday, the Rev. Nelson Harris, chairman of the city School Board, left a message with Councilman William White that he's interested, too.
Others began calling Onzlee Ware, the 6th Congressional District's Democratic chairman, whose star has risen as a result of the astounding get-out-the-vote effort Democrats pulled off on Election Day.
The ultimate decision rests with City Council. By law, they have to appoint a successor to Edwards within 30 days of his resignation, which is expected soon.
"It's something we're going to have a whole lot of debate over, I think," White said.
"There's going to be some trading and dealing going on," Ware said. "My biggest concern is that it's done openly ... rather than six people just going behind closed doors."
Edwards began his current four-year term July 1, 1994, leaving 21/2 years remaining. Under city law, council selects an interim appointee until the next regular council elections in May. The remaining two years of the term will be up for grabs then. Whoever is elected will take office July 1.
Another question the vacancy raises is whether council wants an appointee who will serve only until July 1, or whether it will pick someone interested in running to keep the seat after that.
That issue also arose in the fall of 1993, when former council member Bev Fitzpatrick resigned to become executive director of the New Century Council. Republicans sought a guarantee that whoever was selected wouldn't run in the following election, but they didn't get it.
Council, ruled 4-2 by Democrats at that time, ultimately settled on Edwards.
Council members seem divided on the same issue, but this time there's a 3-3 split between Republicans and Democrats. The appointment requires four votes.
"My thought is that we want to bring on somebody who will not be just a caretaker," Bowers said Thursday.
But Republican Councilwoman Elizabeth Bowles said a caretaker is exactly what council needs. She doesn't like the idea of giving a leg up to any particular person in the May election.
"Right now we need someone with a strong interest in the city, rather than some politician interested in getting a foot in the door," she said.
"I don't want us to appoint somebody who's going to use it as a stepping stone," Republican Councilman Jack Parrott said. "It wouldn't bother me if we tapped some qualified person who isn't interested in staying on."
Here are some of the people being floated as possible nominees:
Harris, pastor of Ridgewood Baptist Church. A Democrat, he ran fourth in a five-way race for three open council seats during the last elections in May 1994. Parrott edged him out for the third slot by fewer than 500 votes.
Harris called Councilman William White about the post Wednesday. Harris was out of town Thursday and Friday and could not be reached for comment.
Gary Waldo, a leader in the Progressive Democratic Coalition, said he believes Harris already has the support of at least three council members.
"Harris has some mandate from the people. He's got a claim, having run before, rather than being somebody's flunky," Waldo said.
But Ware said Harris' 1994 loss may hurt rather than help his chances now.
If appointed to council, Harris would have to give up his School Board seat.
Tinsley, former chairman of the city Democratic committee and past president of the now-defunct Gainsboro Neighborhood Development Corp. The 40-year Roanoke resident is pastor of a Buena Vista church and retired Thursday from his job as a clerk at Norfolk Southern Corp.
"I mentioned to the mayor Tuesday night that I'd be interested," Tinsley said Friday, citing well-paying jobs, regional cooperation and crime prevention as the city's greatest needs.
Vern Danielsen, chairman of the Roanoke Civic Center Commission, an associate with the architectural and engineering firm Hayes Seay Mattern & Mattern, and treasurer of Edwards' successful campaign.
But Danielsen took himself out of the running Thursday, citing business commitments.
David Lisk, a former councilman and coordinator for Roanoke's Sister City program. Lisk is willing to serve as an interim appointee until another council member is elected in May, Edwards said.
Jack Coulter, a lawyer and retired Roanoke Circuit Court judge. Coulter said he would serve as a caretaker council member and is not interested in "any political contest."
"If there are others out there who aspire to make a career out of political activity, I certainly do not want to stand in their way," he said.
Betty Pullen, director of Project Discovery Inc., a statewide community-action agency that helps prepare students in grades 4-12 for college.
Pullen said Friday that she has put out "feelers" for an appointment, "but at this time I've not completely decided to put my name in the hat." She's more interested in an interim appointment than in running for the two remaining years of the term next May, she said.
Other names being floated as potential appointments are Ronald Marsh, a former salesman with the Roanoke Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau; Mary Hackley, a retired school principal; former Councilman Jim Trout; and Jim Burkes, a Norfolk Southern employee.
by CNB