
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, March 8, 1990                   TAG: 9003081637
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B5   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER SOUTHWEST BUREAU
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

THREE MAYORS FACE RE-ELECTION CHALLENGES IN MAY

Mayors in Wytheville, Hillsville and Independence are all being challenged for re-election in the May 1 municipal races in Southwest Virginia.

Wytheville Mayor Carl Stark faces former Town Council member Trent Crewe, Hillsville Mayor Barnard L. Martin will compete with James I. Webb, and Independence Mayor Charles F. Austin is vying with French P. "Jack" Blevins.

Three Wytheville council seats will be filled in the election. Hayden Austin is not running again, but James R. "Hubby" Hudson is and Dr. D.B. Cox, appointed last year to an unexpired term, will seek a full term of his own. Newcomers in the race are Jack W. Hunley and John W. Jones Jr.

In Hillsville, Pine Creek District Councilman Robert M. Morison is being challenged by Bernard C. Talley; Gene M. Pack, in Laurel Fork, faces Strader E. Blankenship; and Mary L. Horton faces three challengers in the Piper's Gap District: Jeanne Caudill Webb, Orba Owen Alderman and Herman Robinson. Only Sulphur Springs Councilman Jack W. Akers is unopposed.

In Independence, most of the council candidates are incumbents: Herbert L. Anderson, Paul W. Byrd, Frank A. Dowell, Gordon J. Miniclier, Ellis F. Reeves IV and Clair I. Yoder. Cecil W. Adams is the only newcomer.

Rural Retreat Mayor R. Doug Humphrey Jr. is unopposed, but two council members - Garnett S. Miller Sr. and Virginia Hankla Nase - face competition from Margaret Gwin Bollinger, Andrew "Jack" Parks and George Frank Reasor Jr. for three seats. Betty Presgraves is not seeking re-election.

Marion Town Council members Ernest S. Aker, Walter J. Boone, Marshall E. Guy and Stella W. Maloney are seeking re-election against challengers James K. Cornick and David P. Helms.

The city of Galax will see a race for four seats among three incumbents - Roderick A. "Rod" Cox, Clarence M. Mitchell Jr. and Glenn G. Wilson - and two newcomers, Larry E. Diamond and Graham M. Parks. Thomas L. Bird is not seeking re-election.

In Abingdon, Elizabeth Francine Ivery is running with three current council members - French H. Moore Jr., Lois Hagy Humphreys and Harry L. Coomes - for three seats.

Saltville Mayor Frank "T-Bone" Lewis has no opposition, but five candidates are running for the three seats that will be open: Roger A. Allison, Robert O. Cahill, Barry W. Loupe, Michael D. Roberts and Garland R. Parks, the only incumbent running. Leo Branham and Andrew Frye are not seeking re-election.

All seven Fries Town Council seats are up for grabs. The candidates are incumbents Carolyn Jennings Jones, Gary L. Sumner and William P. Warrick, the current mayor, along with newcomers Charlie J. Gallimore, Harold C. Johnson, Gregory C. Marshall, Doris Hagy Mottesheard, William P. Warrick and Christian Maria Kok Vuurmans. Not seeking re-election are Nita Alley, French J. Anderson, Don G. Byrd, George B. Lawson and James E. Robinson Jr.

by CNB