                                ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Thursday, March 7, 1996                TAG: 9603080026
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                PAGE: S6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: S.D. HARRINGTON STAFF WRITER

FIVE IN RACE FOR SEATS ON SALEM COUNCIL

When Salem Mayor Jim Taliaferro announced in January that he would not seek re-election this May, it didn't take long for the rumor mill to start circulating names of potential candidates to fill his council seat.

The talk of the town was "who will replace Jim Taliaferro?"

Rumors of partisan politics and as many as 12 names of potential candidates were strewing.

The deadline to file for candidacy expired Tuesday, and three candidates and two incumbents have made their bids for the May 7 elections. Three seats on the five-member council will expire, and the new council will select the mayor.

Both Democratic and Republican parties have decided not to endorse any candidates, keeping within the tradition of City Council races that aren't party-affiliated.

But the question remains: who will replace the man that has led Salem City Council for more than 22 years?

Here's a glimpse of what the candidates have to offer.

LENGTH: Short :   30 lines
KEYWORDS: POLITICS CITY COUNCI

by CNB