Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, October 13, 1993 TAG: 9310130083
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: BRIAN KELLEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Long
It reflects the paradox of Montgomery's District D, which stretches from rural Fishers View Mountain on the Floyd County line, through the southwest corner of Christiansburg and along the Norfolk Southern Corp. railroad line to Radford.
It's a dilemma the county faces as a whole. Newcomers, drawn by the rural beauty, turn farmland into housing tracts and then want services to keep pace with more populated areas. But longtime residents don't want to pay for those increased services with higher taxes.
With that as a backdrop, in three weeks District D voters will choose one of two men to represent them on the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors.
It's a rematch of the 1989 contest that the incumbent, three-term Republican Henry F. Jablonski, 57, won with 54 percent of the vote.
Democratic challenger James E. "Jim" Martin, 50, an 11-year appointee to the county Planning Commission, says it's still time for a change.
"I ran a good race then," Martin recalled. "I think I can do a little better this time."
Both candidates are talking issues, not personalities, and both are amiable family men who moved to Montgomery County years ago to work at the Radford Army Ammunition Plant. Jablonski works for Hercules Inc. in engineering; Martin is an electronics technician.
Their 1989 race was close: The final margin of less than 250 votes came from Jablonski's strong showings in the Christiansburg Armory and Auburn High School precincts, where he won 56 and 61 percent of the vote, respectively. Martin convincingly won the Bethel Elementary precinct - he lives there in the Vicker area - and narrowly took the Pilot Pentecostal Holiness Church precinct, both including the district's more-rural areas.
The 1991 redistricting and four years of growth have dramatically enlarged the Christiansburg precinct, which includes the southwest neighborhood where Jablonski and his family have lived for 25 years. Where before there were 1,967 registered voters, now there are 2,682, a 27 percent increase.
The number of registered voters also grew by 17 percent in the Riner precinct and 18 percent in Bethel, according to the registrar's office, but it dropped 4 percent in the Pilot precinct.
This translates to more door-to-door work for both men - Jablonski to try to solidify his base, Martin to try to take it.
Jablonski, a practiced speaker, and Martin, who prefers one-on-one chats, are talking some of the same issues with slightly different twists:
Economic development and growth:
Jablonski said two factors are driving this issue: Montgomery's rapid growth during the 1980s, and layoffs from manufacturing jobs, including those from the Radford arsenal. The challenge, he said, is to balance the growth in retail jobs with efforts to increase the number of manufacturing jobs.
Jablonski points to some recent gains: the two shell buildings the county built, both now occupied, the purchase of the Falling Branch site for a future industrial park and the purchase of a large former factory building for economic development. He also notes that the Virginia 177 corridor agreement with Radford will save money in the long run for both jurisdictions.
The agreement, ratified by voters, sets forth how water and sewer service will be provided by the soon-to-grow area, and how the city and the county will share revenues.
"It's important . . . in terms of potential revenue and jobs," he said.
Martin said he's deeply concerned about the rapid growth in the county and the need to provide employment. As a supervisor, Martin said he would work closely with the New River Valley Planning District Commission to bring in high-tech industry and jobs that pay more than just the minimum wage. He said he would also be careful to encourage small businesses to stay in the county.
The "smart" road:
Both men favor the proposed five-mile high-tech link between Interstate 81 north of Christiansburg and Blacksburg for its economic development potential. Jablonski notes that whenever Virginia Tech or other major institutions get government money for a project, it has a good effect on the region.
The "smart" road is now seen as linked to another proposed highway linking the U.S. 460 bypasses of Blacksburg and Christiansburg, and thus avoiding the current bottlenecks in northern Christiansburg. Since the projects are interdependent, Jablonski said, it's important for the Board of Supervisors and the two town councils to show a unified front in support of the projects.
Through briefings to the Planning Commission, Martin said, his position has changed over the years from total opposition to the "smart" road to an appreciation of the government and private research money it might bring in. "I still have some questions," he said, "but I'm not totally opposed to it." One of those questions is the effect the project would have on Ellett valley, he said.
Schools and growth in Riner:
Martin sees solving school crowding as one of the primary challenges for the Board of Supervisors and the Montgomery School Board over the next four years. Key will be clear, open communication with the school officials, something he would pursue on the board.
Jablonski wants to make sure the overcrowding in the Riner-area schools is a permanent change, rather than a temporary swelling, before he commits to a new school or schools. In response to earlier overcrowding, the board over the last four years went forward with the Falling Branch Elementary School outside Christiansburg and a new elementary school in Blacksburg that's under construction.
Taxes: Martin would rather see taxes increased incrementally, if necessary, rather than waiting years for a huge jump. Still, he said, "I'm not a big spender, and I don't believe in putting a big burden on everyone else."
Jablonski said he generally has not supported tax increases in the past. He's wary, however, of dipping too much into reserves to balance the budget, as doing so could affect the county's bond rating and ability to borrow money for projects such as new schools.
There are many other issues in the campaign, ranging from the county's proposed open-space plan to the need for a new county landfill in the next decade.
Voters can hear the two men debate at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 28 at the Montgomery Courthouse.
Until then, Jablonski will do as he's done in past contests. "I intend to work hard . . . people want to hear your viewpoints," he said.
Martin says the present Board of Supervisors has done good work, but once a member has been in office "too long, they get oriented too much in one way."
He's telling people across District D that he'll make a point of listening. "When it comes down to big decisions on taxation, development [and] schools, I want to get all the input I can from the citizens," Martin said.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB