Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 9, 1990 TAG: 9003092534
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER MUNICIPAL WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
At the first joint appearance Thursday night by the candidates, the consolidation issue arose early, both directly and indirectly, in questions by members of the Greater Raleigh Court Civic League.
All candidates said they believe that consolidation would help promote long-term economic growth.
Responding to questions about consolidation and schools, Councilman Howard Musser said that neither city School Superintendent Frank Tota nor county Superintendent Bayes Wilson apparently is interested in becoming superintendent for the consolidated system if merger is approved.
But both Tota and Wilson said today they have not made a decision on whether they would be interested in becoming the top man for a consolidated system.
Musser, a Democrat who is seeking a new term in the May 1 election, said he understands that Wilson may retire by the time the school systems could be consolidated in 1993.
William White, a School Board member who is seeking a council seat, said he expects Tota to leave the city school system when his contract ends in 1993.
One woman in the audience said some county residents will vote against consolidation because they thought Tota would become superintendent of a consolidated school system.
Referring to the controversial retirement package that was approved for Tota last year, White said, "I believe that at the end of four years, our superintendent will leave us. I think his contract is so good that he will take his option and leave."
Tota said today he has not made a decision on whether he will leave the city job at the end of his current contract or whether he would be interested in becoming superintendent of a merged system.
Wilson said he thinks it is premature for him or Tota to make a decision until they know whether consolidation has been approved and the school board for a merged system has been appointed.
The consolidation agreement calls for the school board to be appointed in 1992 to begin planning for combining the school systems on July 1, 1993.
If merger is approved, Wilson said he would decide in the year before it became effective whether he would be interested in the top job.
Wilson, 58, has been eligible to retire for three years, but he said he told the county School Board that he plans to keep working at least until his contract ends June 30, 1993.
While there was no dissent on consolidation at the candidates' forum, there were partisan and philosophical differences among the council candidates on some issues.
Roland Macher, a Republican making his first try for public office, said he offers voters a choice if they want to prevent "back-room politics and closed doors" on council if the Democrats win a 5-2 majority.
Macher, the only GOP candidate, said he wants to win the seat being vacated by Republican Robert Garland to help maintain a political balance on council.
Macher said he does not have a political background, but has 15 years of business experience that would be helpful on council.
But the three Democrats - Musser, White and James Harvey, a former councilman - said they have the political experience and philosophy that is needed for the city in the 1990s.
Musser and White said the city needs to help attract businesses and industries that will create more jobs for young people.
White said the Democrats agree on many issues, but they will be independent minded and will not necessarily vote alike on all issues.
Harvey said the Democrats will balance the need for economic growth, quality education, moderate tax rates and basic services such as police and fire protection.
Most candidates said they support the plan for a proposed convention and trade center near Hotel Roanoke that has been estimated to cost $25 million, but they did not say how it would be financed.
Harvey and James Trout, an incumbent Democrat who is running as an independent, disagreed on whether all bond issues should be submitted to voters in a referendum.
Harvey said he would insist that all bond issues, including those for parking garages, be submitted to voters in a referendum.
Harvey said he did not know how he would have voted on closing part of the Hunter Viaduct to provide a site for the Dominion Tower. But he said he would have voted to put the $6.8 million bond issue for parking facilities to a referendum.
Trout, who voted to issue the bonds without a referendum, said parking garages can sometimes stimulate private development that provides tax funds to help offset the tax burden on homeowners.
Trout said that council's decision in the early 1970s to issues bonds for a parking garage on Church Avenue without a referendum led to the construction of three downtown bank buildings.
Trout pointed to the success of the city's economic development program in recent years. Private and public projects costing more than $180 million are expected to begin in the next two years, he said.
Trout, chairman of the city's Economic development Commission, said Roanoke has been identified by the newspaper USA Today as one of the Southern cities that is a "hot investment" because of its economic development program.
Trout said that public education and economic growth are linked because new businesses and industries will provide the tax funds to finance a good school system.
The Rev. Cecil McClanahan, an independent, said he is running because he is concerned about the growth of satanic cults and moral decay in the city and nation.
"I am not a politician. It doesn't matter whether I win or not. I am a minister and I hope to impress upon our council members and others the need to take a stand against satanism and evil," McClanahan said.
McClanahan, pastor of the Wings of Faith Church, said he wants city leaders to take a stand against such shows as the Alice Cooper concert at the Roanoke Civic Center earlier this week.
In 1988, McClanahan was charged with the rape of 20-year-old mentally retarded woman in Alleghany County. He was later acquitted of the charge. McClanahan said the criminal charge against him was one reason he is running for council. His campaign platform calls for a "fair judicial system."
by CNB