ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, March 7, 1996 TAG: 9603120003
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: W-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: S.D. HARRINGTON
Howard Packett, finishing 12 years on Salem City Council, seriously considered stepping down when his term expires this year.
He reconsidered, however, when Mayor Jim Taliaferro announced that he would not seek re-election. Also, he thought that with Councilman John Givens having less than a year of experience on council, Packett's possible resignation would leave the council with three new or almost-new members.
It's not that the city is in any danger of falling apart, Packett said. Salem is in good financial shape, he said: It's just a matter of keeping it that way.
Packett says he wants council to continue the kinds of things it has been doing. And to do that, the council needs members with experience, he said.
Despite Salem's financial strength, City Council will face tough issues in the coming years - particularly maintaining a strong tax base to pay for several recently completed capital projects, such as the $10.1 million baseball stadium, finished last summer.
``Salem's biggest problem is we don't have an area to grow,'' Packett said, so the city will have to use what resources it has without jacking up its taxes.
``We'll just have to have good business management of what we've got,'' Packett said.
As far as new capital projects, Packett would like to see the city go ahead with the golf course at Mowles Spring Park, which he says should be able to pay for itself. The city also could preserve as a park the land not used for the golf course.
Packett also wants to see the much-talked-about bridge in South Salem, which would give residents better access across railroad tracks and the Roanoke River, added to the city's next six-year road construction plan.
In addition, he would like to see the city do a good job with the proposed greenways, possibly offering better pedestrian access to downtown Salem.
``Everything looks in good shape,'' Packett said. ``We just have to keep it that way.''
HOWARD PACKETT
Age: 63
Occupation: President, The Packett Group, an advertising and public relations agency in Roanoke.
Personal: Married, two children
Education: Bachelor's degree from Washington and Lee University
Political background: 12 years on City Council
LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: Howard Packett\12-year veteran. KEYWORDS: POLITICS CITY COUNCILby CNB