Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, November 23, 1993 TAG: 9311230038
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Ray Reed
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
A: Fifty-three percent.
The newspaper's editorial page endorsed 17 candidates or issues in the Nov. 2 election. The voters agreed with the editors on nine of them.
That's appropriate.
Editorials should provoke thought, not simply influence it - and mighty few people let editorial opinions sway their vote these days.
Endorsements are not intended to pick winners. Mary Sue Terry got the nod for governor from our editorial page, even though she was about 17 points behind in the polls.
That's because the endorsement goes to the candidate regarded as the best person for the job.
Other people have their own opinions, of course; in letters to the editor, anyone can endorse candidates.
Here's the score sheet on candidates and issues the newspaper backed:
Mary Sue Terry - defeated; Don Beyer - elected lieutenant governor; Bill Dolan - defeated by Jim Gilmore for attorney general.
In other races: Botetourt County - Robert Layman and John Shiflett were elected to the Board of Supervisors.
Roanoke County - Lee Garrett was defeated in Windsor Hills, and Bob Johnson won in Hollins for the Board of Supervisors.
Montgomery County - Jim Smith lost his race, and Henry Jablonski won in another district for the Board of Supervisors.
In Roanoke, Marsha Fielder was elected commissioner of revenue.
In House of Delegates races, Howard Packett and Wes Naff lost, while Dick Cranwell and Jim Shuler won.
The paper advocated three issues: appointment of school boards by local governing bodies; passage of Montgomery County's bond issues; and zoning for the part of Franklin County that doesn't already have it.
Montgomery's bonds were approved. The voters went the other way on school boards and Franklin zoning.
Water-job repaving
Q: When will roads be returned to their proper condition after the 13 miles of pipeline for the city water system are installed? I'm afraid the rough surfaces will be hazardous during the winter. D.B., Roanoke
A: Final repairs can be expected next spring, said John Peters of the city engineering department. In the meantime, streets may be rough, but at least they shouldn't be muddy.
The pipe-work contractors put down a temporary patch as they go.
Peters said earth will settle beneath those patches during the winter, and the worst spots will be refilled.
Next spring, a smooth overlay will be installed over the disturbed surface - which is a single lane in most locations, Peters said.
Hollins Road, Main Street and Riverland Road have been the primary work sites so far.
The good news, he said, is that the work has moved quickly so far, and there have been fewer citizen complaints than expected.
Got a question about something that may affect other people, too? Something you've come across and wondered about? Give us a call at 981-3118. Maybe we can find the answer.
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