Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, April 6, 1990 TAG: 9004060575
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER MUNICIPAL WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The only sharp exchange came when Councilmen Howard Musser and James Trout disputed the merits of Musser's proposal last year for a 2-cent reduction in the city's real-estate tax rate.
Council rejected the tax cut, and Trout was asked by a man in the audience at the Williamson Road Action Forum meeting to explain his reasons for opposing it.
Trout said a tax cut would have meant less money for police protection and other services, but Musser countered that the city ended the fiscal year with several million dollars left over, so no cuts in service would have been required.
The negative attacks that had surfaced in recent days in the campaign were missing, as the candidates concentrated mostly on issues that are important to Williamson Road voters: storm drains, cruising, crime and drugs, historic preservation.
Republican Roland Macher didn't mention his charge earlier this week that the Democrats had offered him a School Board seat if he wouldn't run for council this year.
After the forum, Macher said he might have more to say on the School Board issue later, but he doesn't want to pursue it now. The Democrats said they didn't bring up the issue because they have answered the allegation already.
"There's nothing more to say," said James Harvey, a former councilman on the Democratic ticket with Musser and William White. "We answered it. It's not true and what more is there to say?"
Trout, a Democrat who is running as an independent, didn't respond to White's charge earlier this week that he conspired with school Superintendent Frank Tota to limit the applicants that would be considered to fill Guy Byrd's unexpired term on the School Board.
Trout said he didn't think Thursday's night forum was the proper place to answer the charge.
Although the candidates made no mention of the recent attacks, one member raised the issue. Delvis "Mac" McCadden, an applicant for one of three School Board seats to be filled next month, asked the candidates what the negative campaigning had to do with education. He said all candidates say they favor quality education and he asked what the term means to them.
Most of the candidates said a quality school system should help all children to reach their potential, but they made no mention of the charges and countercharges on the School Board issue.
The Rev. Cecil McClanahan, an independent candidate, said the school curriculum should include more religious material. He said too many satanic doctrines, such as evolution, are being taught in public schools.
Harvey and Musser promised they will work to reduce problems that are caused by teen-agers and others cruising on Williamson Road late at night, particularly on Friday and Saturday nights.
Harvey noted that he had helped win approval of a $17 million program to solve drainage problems on Williamson Road when he was on council. He said he has talked with some private businessmen about sponsoring activities such as dances for teen-agers to help reduce cruising on Williamson Road.
Musser said the city can do more to help reduce the cruising that has upset many businessmen and residents in recent years. He reminded the Williamson Road voters that he persuaded city officials to abandon plans for unsightly retention ponds as part of the neighborhood's storm drainage system.
Macher said the city should rearrange its priorities so more money can be spent on police protection and other emergency services to deal with cruising, drug abuse, crime and related problems.
"I am not sure you have to raise taxes to do it. You can shift money from other areas," Macher said.
White, a School Board member who is making his first try for elected office, said he has spent the past 10 years preparing himself for a council seat. He served on the city Economic Development Commission and Roanoke Industrial Development Authority before he was appointed to the School Board five years ago.
Trout said he is running on his record in economic development and support for schools. Since becoming chairman of the city's Economic Development Commission, Trout said he has spearheaded the development of the Roanoke Centre for Industry and Technology and the creation of nearly 1,400 jobs in the 300-acre industrial park.
Trout said the city has recently bought 142 acres to expand the park, and he anticipates that another 1,400 jobs will be created there. The city's strong economic development program has helped to lighten the tax burden on homeowners, he said.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB