ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, March 6, 1996 TAG: 9603060085
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DAN CASEY STAFF WRITER
There is one prediction you can safely make about Roanoke's next City Council: At least three new faces will take seats at council's dais in July.
On Tuesday, Councilman Mac McCadden became the second incumbent this week to announce retirement from council, saying he'll forgo a re-election bid this May.
"A lot of it has to do with my company," the four-year council veteran and USAir district sales manager said. "In some ways, the job I set out to do [on council] is done. ...I think I've taken it as far as I can take it as an elected official in the city."
The 45-year-old Republican's decision leaves only two incumbents - Mayor David Bowers and Councilwoman Linda Wyatt, both Democrats - seeking re-election. Longtime Councilwoman Elizabeth Bowles announced her retirement Monday.
In all, there are five council seats up for grabs. McCadden's and Bowles' decisions guarantee at least three of those seats to challengers.
McCadden is a William Fleming High School alumnus, Virginia Tech grad and former major league baseball umpire who came to be known during his tenure as Roanoke's "sports councilman."
As a volunteer, he's captained efforts to ensure the Tour DuPont bicycle race remained in the Roanoke Valley. McCadden has also been City Council's loudest voice for youth sports programs. On some occasions, he's been council's loudest voice, period.
In the past four years, McCadden probably cast more dissenting votes than any other council member. The most recent was when he objected to changing council's meeting times - the third change in 18 months - to fit members' schedules.
The action he's proudest of, he said, was his December 1993 proposal to build a combined football, baseball and track stadium next to the Hotel Roanoke near downtown.
It failed to win council's approval, which reflects what McCadden considers the most frustrating part of his job: his inability "to acclimate people to the idea that sports is economic development, and that it can mean jobs."
McCadden said his greatest disappointment of his City Council term came when council was negotiating renewal of a franchise agreement with Roanoke Gas.
It was portrayed in the press - incorrectly, McCadden believes - as a city takeover of the company.
"I don't think we as a City Council or our city manager did a good job in letting citizens know we didn't want to take over the gas company," he said. "...I think we did a very poor job and we as a council have to take the blame for it."
McCadden isn't out of politics entirely. Tuesday night, he made an unsuccessful bid for the city Republican chairmanship. Despite the loss, McCadden said he's not ruling out greener political pastures.
Gov. George Allen tried to persuade him to run last year against Del. Clifton "Chip" Woodrum, D-Roanoke. McCadden decided to forgo that race, partly because he hadn't completed his council term.
But in the future, "the House of Delegates is not out of the question," McCadden said. "Maybe I've become well enough known to become [state] senator. I don't know."
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: WAYNE DEEL/Staff Mac McCadden, a one-term Republican,by CNBwon't seek re-election to Roanoke City Council. color KEYWORDS: POLITICS CITY COUNCIL