[Video-Open]

[NEWSCAST=6]

[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=Video Open]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]
[ENG#=3]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:48:42]
[IN Q=I don't think since]
((MAC MCCADDEN: I DON'T THINK SINCE 1976 HAVE WE HAD AN ELECTION THAT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT ISSUES. BEFORE IT WAS A POPULARITY CONTEST.))
[RUNS=09]
[OUT Q=a popularity contest]
(------------)
[VO-NAT :05]
Roanoke's mayoral race heats up amid a mountain of public issues.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Myranda]

Good evening, I'm Myranda Stephens.

---

[Mayoral-Race]

[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=04-07 TC-8:30]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2004]
[ENG#=4]

With the Democratic candidate now in place, mayoral candidates are beginning their journey to the General Election. Jennifer Wishon has more on the candidates and the issues defining the race.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00 ]
[SUPER=01-Nelson Harris/(D) Candidate for Mayor; :19 ]
[SUPER=04-July 2003; :40 ]
[SUPER=04-November 2003; :53 ]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/May 2003; :57 ]
[SUPER=01-Alice Hincker/(R) Candidate for Mayor; 1:05 ]
[SUPER=04-1993; 1:28 ]
[SUPER=@Jennifer2; 1:21 ]
[SUPER=01-Mac McCadden/(I) Candidate for Mayor; 1:45 ]
[RUNS=2:08]
[OUT Q=JW, News 7, Roanoke]
(( Roanoke City's general election is roughly three months away, but mayoral candidates are already mapping out their game plans. Vice Mayor Nelson Harris walked away with the Democratic nomination Saturday. He's now focused on the general election and hopes to win voters over with his approach to leadership.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 3:53:05]
[IN Q=I'm hoping to bring a ]
((NELSON HARRIS: I'M HOPING TO BRING A VERY DIFFERENT TONE, VERY DIFFERENT STYLE OF LEADERSHIP TO THE OFFICE OF MAYOR, OF COURSE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL FOR EIGHT YEARS AND SO I FEEL LIKE I KNOW HOW COUNCIL CAN WORK AND WORK BEST AND SO I'M GOING TO BE DRAWING FROM THAT EXPERIENCE AS WELL.))
[RUNS= 16]
[OUT Q=experience as well]
A number of controversial issues will play a major role in each candidates campaign. Over the past year an activist group formed to protect and rennovate Victory Stadium- while city council was starting to build a new stadium- amphitheater. City residents banded together to fight the proposal of a methadone clinic and questions surfaced about the safety of city schools. That's when Republican nominee Alice Hincker stepped into the public eye.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:04:25]
[IN Q=I was really disappointed]
((ALICE HINCKER: I WAS REALLY DISPPOINTED AT THE TIME THAT WE AS CITIZENS WERE CONTACTING CITY COUNCIL AND THE SCHOOL BOARD TOO, BUT CONTACTING COUNCIL, SENDING EMAILS, SENDING LETTERS, PHONE CALLS AND HOW LITTLE ACKNOWLEDMENT WE GOT, HOW LITTLE RESPONSE WE GOT.))
[RUNS= 15]
[OUT Q=response we got]
Hincker believes some of the issues facing Roanoke wouldn't be around if city council had been doing it's job all along. ((QUICK NATS OF MAC TALKING DURING FILE COUNCIL MEETING.)) Former Council Member Mac McCadden plans to formally announce his plans to run for mayor this week. The Independent says he'll address current problems facing the city, but also hopes to focus on long term issues that will help make Roanoke a secure place for the future.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:45:50]
[IN Q=Nobody's discussing why]
((MAC MCCADDEN: NOBODY'S DISCUSSING WHY OUR CENSUS HAS DECLINED THAT PAST TWO DECADES. NOBODY'S DISCUSSED WHY, NOBODY'S DISCUSSED A WAY TO MOVE OUR CITY FORWARD. NOBODY'S DISCUSSED HOW WE CAN KEEP OUR CHILDREN HERE AND HOW WE CAN TRAIN PEOPLE TO GO RIGHT INTO THE JOB MARKET AND BRING BUSINESSES HERE.))
[RUNS= 18]
[OUT Q=bring businesses here]
The general election is set for May 4th. Jennifer Wishon, News 7, Roanoke.))

---

[S-Qualify]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-162 TC10822]
[GRAPHIC=Daytona 500]
[ENG#=1]

After nearly 20 years of trying Jack Roush finally has a Daytona 500 pole. 45 cars went after the top spot in today's time trials at the World Center of Racing.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Daytona, FL; :00]

Winds upwards of 20-25 miles an hour were a hindrance this afternoon at the 2 and a half mile tri-oval.
Emporia's Elliott Sadler set the early pace laying down a lap at 188.35 miles per hour in the M&M's machine for Robert Yates Racing.
But Biffle, the defending Pepsi 400 champ, bested Sadler by just 8 thousandths of a second to claim the pole for next Sunday's Great American Race.
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. just missed the front row and will determine his starting spot in Thursday's qualifying race.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Greg Biffle/Daytona 500 Pole Winner; :00]
[SUPEr=01-Elliott Sadler/Will Start 2nd in Daytona 500; :15]
[RUNS=:30]
[OUT Q=be pretty cool."]
(-----------------)