ROANOKE TIMES Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times DATE: Friday, February 16, 1996 TAG: 9602160047 SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO SOURCE: S.D. HARRINGTON
A Salem businessman this week became the fifth announced candidate for Salem City Council.
Steve Smeltzer, 47, president of Blue Ridge Office Systems in Salem and a member of the New Century Council, said he wants to see more public input on City Council.
"We need to create a government from the grass roots up," he said.
Smeltzer, who is running as an independent, said he will focus his candidacy on maintaining a strong school system and pro-business climate in Salem.
"I thought it would be a good opportunity to develop some new leadership in the city of Salem," he said.
He is a past president of the Roanoke County/Salem Chamber of Commerce and a board member of the Southwest Virginia Health Systems Agency.
He will run for one of three seats that are up for election this year.
Incumbents Howard Packett and Alex Brown will seek re-election.
Former Salem Police Chief Harry Haskins and former School Board Chairman John I. Moore also have said they will run.
Mayor Jim Taliaferro has said he will step down after serving 24 years on Council.
Smeltzer, a native of Abingdon who moved to Salem in 1984, is married and has two children.
LENGTH: Short : 35 lines KEYWORDS: POLITICSby CNB