Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 7, 1990 TAG: 9003071784
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER MUNICIPAL WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
But city Democrats said that his decision will not affect their campaign strategy to try to win all three council seats up for election in May.
Garland, one of Roanoke's most enduring and successful politicians, has been a councilman for 24 of the past 28 years, which is believed to be the longest period for a councilman in the city's history.
"He is a very distinguished and gracious gentleman," said Councilman David Bowers, a Democrat who has disagreed with Garland on several issues in recent years.
"He is a very solid individual. The city owes him a debt for his many years of service," Bowers said. "The presence of Bob and his wife, Frances, will be missed at governmental functions."
Councilman Howard Musser, a Democrat who is seeking re-election in May, said he was surprised that Garland decided not to seek a new term. "Having served on council for 24 years, I think he deserves a rest," Musser said. "I don't think I could ever serve that long."
Hampton Thomas, a former councilman who served 12 years with Garland, said the veteran councilman "was always in touch with the people, trying to see that the neighborhoods and the schools were taken care of."
Garland "didn't always take the popular stand, but he always seemed to give everything careful thought," Thomas said.
The Democrats said they will not cut back on their campaign because Garland has decided to step down.
The three seats up for election in May are now held by Garland, Musser and James Trout.
"I expect a tough campaign. We have put together a solid team and we need to elect all three of them so we can have a new majority on council," Bowers said. "We want to win all of the seats, not just one or two."
The Democratic candidates are Musser, School Board member William White and James Harvey, a former councilman. If the Democrats win all three seats, they would have a 5-2 majority on council.
Garland, who was first elected to council nearly three decades ago, said he agonized over the decision on whether to seek a new term.
"I have come to the conclusion that 24 years is long enough, and the time has come for me to step down from this office I have been privileged to hold for so long," he said.
Wearing a charcoal-gray suit and his ever-present bow tie, Garland read a three-page statement to reporters as he stood in the sunlight on the patio of his home on Lakewood Drive Southwest.
Garland recalled that he was only 39 when he took office in 1962, the youngest member of council then.
"While God has blessed me with good health, at 67 you cannot be indifferent to the ticking of the biological clock," he said.
Garland, a pharmacist, said he has been in the public eye for more than 40 years, first as a businessman operating the family's drugstore on Grandin Road Southwest and then as a councilman.
Garland also said he also did not want to get involved in a bitter campaign this year.
"I didn't want to get into recriminations about the past and present and some decisions council has made in the past year," he said. "The past year has been rather difficult." He referred to council's decision to close the Jefferson Street leg of the Hunter Viaduct, among other issues.
Garland would have had no trouble winning the Republican nomination for a new term, but he acknowledged he might have had a tough fight for re-election. Although Garland said he has no plans to seek public office again, he said he would not rule it out.
by CNB