Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, April 3, 1990 TAG: 9004030500
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: KIM ZEOLI SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
Residents will have two veterans of city government to choose from. Starnes has been a member of council for 16 years; 10 of them he served as mayor. Worrell has been a councilman for eight years.
Starnes and Worrell also are involved with numerous committees and community organizations. Both candidates hold full-time jobs in addition to government posts. Starnes is the manager of maintenance for Hercules Inc. at the Radford Army Ammunition Plant; Worrell is owner of Bank Supply Co. Inc. in Radford.
Both said more needs to be done to bring industries to Radford. With recent layoffs in the New River Valley, the economic status of Radford is a concern of many residents.
"I believe the industrial park that is nearing completion will enhance the ability of the city to attract new industry," said Starnes. The anticipated designation as a state-certified business community also should provide state help in promoting Radford as a potential business location, he said.
Starnes, a Radford resident for 29 years, said the city as well as the New River Valley must do a better job of selling this area. He said he hoped the recently established New River Alliance would accomplish that objective.
The alliance is a combination of chambers of commerce, businesses, industries and local governments dedicated to improving the economic situation in the New River Valley.
Worrell, a lifelong resident of the city, agreed that Radford should support the alliance. "By doing so, we will improve the economic situation in Radford," he said.
Marketing the city at every chance and having smaller industries in the area are two suggestions Worrell believes would help Radford improve economically. "We need small- to medium-size industries and businesses to provide the buffer we must have when the area is [hit] with layoffs. We should also continue to market the city of Radford in every way possible," he said.
Starnes and Worrell have different views about the Grayson Commission's proposal to eliminate independent city status for cities with populations under 125,000.
Worrell believes citizens should be able to vote on the matter.
"If and when the Grayson Commission gets the number of votes to pass the legislature, I trust that the people of Radford will vote at a referendum to let their thoughts be known. I do not think that a five-member council should be the sole authority on determining this important matter," he said.
Starnes sees the need for "a strong and articulate spokesman . . . to assure that Radford remains an independent city."
The candidates agree that Radford University is important to the city. "The university has provided stable and expanding job opportunities for many Radford residents," said Starnes.
Starnes also said the university and the students contribute significantly to the economic base of the city and the university provides educational, recreational and cultural activities for city residents.
Worrell said the university is important to the city because "it draws worldwide attention to the city through different programs and new fields of education that are being provided."
The university also provides the city with revenue through sales tax receipts, utility bills and real estate taxes paid by owners of apartment complexes. Worrell said he wonders whether merchants realize the potential Radford has if it were to handle merchandise that is demanded by the students and faculty.
Both candidates have strong ideas about what they would like to accomplish. Worrell said he wants to see the relationship with Radford University improve, and he would like the public to be better informed through newsletters, public sessions, a mayor's report and other means.
Worrell said residents should be more involved on committees. "Citizens' committees are the eyes and ears of the community, and through these committees, you would be able to get a feel of the people. And they could also be sounding boards for the community in which they live."
Starnes plans to continue emphasizing the city's assets. "Many improvements such as Bisset Park, a new library, a new middle school and improvements in storm drainage have occurred while maintaining a reasonable tax rate," he said.
If re-elected, Starnes said he would strive to maintain the financial stability of Radford and he would devote time, energy and resources to assure that Radford remain an independent city.
by CNB