ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, April 30, 1996 TAG: 9604300097
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: PULASKI
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
The only issues to surface in the Pulaski election seem to be rising water and sewer rates, and whether the town's police chief can live out of town.
With four seats up before voters next week, three Town Council members are seeking re-election while a fourth, E.G. "Junior" Black, is not. Competition comes from former council members Polly Mitchell and Jim Neblett and political newcomer Charles W. Stewart Jr.
Mitchell, who served on council from 1980 to 1984 and has run five more times for a council seat without success, is making another bid. She told those who urged her to run that she is not going door-to-door this time because, she figures, people pretty well know where she stands by now.
One of her stands is that Pulaski should hire its administrative staff from in town. She criticized Police Chief Herb Cooley for not having moved yet from Wythe County after being named to the Pulaski post a year ago. Current council members who hired Cooley reply that he has been seeking a house, and say the main consideration should be that he is doing a good job.
An Appalachian Power Co. payroll department retiree, Mitchell is a lifelong Pulaski resident with family ties going far back. She enjoys reminiscing about how Pulaski used to be in its boom days, and speaks of bringing back some of that activity.
Roy D'Ardenne, who is seeking a second term, is chairman of the council committee that screens applicants for administrative positions. Since he has been in that position, the town hired four of its seven current department heads plus its manager. D'Ardenne says the choices were good.
John Johnson had served 12 years on previous councils when he was appointed two years ago to complete the unexpired term of J.R. Schrader, who resigned halfway through his four years. Johnson is a retired educator and principal, who has decided now to seek another term. "I have more time to give to it now," he said.
The other incumbent is Alma Holston, an assistant to state Sen. Malfourd "Bo" Trumbo, R-Fincastle. She says this election should be about effectiveness, and says hers is shown by her successful lobbying against the repeal of the Business, Professional, Occupational and License Tax which, if the General Assembly had repealed it, would cost Pulaski $250,000 or more. "And you know what would have happened? We would have had to increase taxes."
Neblett, like Mitchell, also served on council before. Between 1974 and 1992, he put in 16 years. Like Johnson, he is a retired elementary school principal. He sees himself as a good listener and someone with common sense which, he says, should be the top requirement for a council member.
Stewart would bring a background in business and engineering to council. Born in Pulaski, he worked throughout the world - including some business negotiating in the Soviet Union at one point - for Sperry Marine Inc. When he retired from that, he founded Great Southwest Inc., a consulting firm, and spent another 11/2 years with it. Now he is retired again, back home and interested in applying his background to local government.
Pulaski Mayor Andy Graham is seeking his second term as mayor, but served on council for 22 years before that.
LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines KEYWORDS: POLITICS CITY COUNCILby CNB