Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, April 23, 1990 TAG: 9004230409
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER MUNICIPAL WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Musser, a 60-year-old Democrat seeking a third term on Roanoke City Council, said he is running on his record, which includes support for economic development, tax cuts, improved basic services such as fire and police protection and better pension benefits for city workers.
Musser was elected to council eight years ago after he helped organize Concerned Citizens and Taxpayers of Roanoke, a group that protested rising real estate assessments in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Former Councilman James Harvey, who is running on a Democratic ticket with Musser, also entered politics after helping organize the group.
As a result of the protest, the Democrats ousted several council members of both parties who had been supported by a downtown businessmen's group, won majority control and pressed for cuts in the real estate tax rate.
Musser has served as vice mayor for four years because he led in the voting each time he ran. The candidate who receives the most votes serves as vice mayor for the next two years.
A retired finance supervisor at General Electric's Salem plant and a private pilot, Musser has remained popular with the taxpayers' group because he has consistently supported tax cuts. But he has developed a more progressive image in recent years because he has supported several downtown renewal projects, including the Dominion Tower project.
Musser split with Councilman David Bowers, a fellow Democrat and political ally, to support the decision to raze the Jefferson Street leg of the Hunter Viaduct to provide a site for the proposed office building.
In the campaign this year, Musser has talked about the need for a strong economic-development program to help attract business and industry to create jobs for young people.
Commercial and industrial development will provide a broader tax base that will help ease the real estate tax burden on elderly homeowners as well as provide more jobs, he said.
Musser said he has become more aware of the need for a broader tax base in the past year as he spent hundreds of hours working on the proposed consolidation plan for Roanoke and Roanoke County.
Businesses and industries provide 60 percent of the tax base in the city, but only 15 percent of the tax base in Roanoke County. He thinks the county could face a financial squeeze if it has to keep relying on a mainly residential tax base.
During the consolidation negotiations, Musser said, he became convinced that the city and county should combine for the long-range economic health of the Roanoke Valley.
Even if voters reject consolidation in November, Musser said, the city will need a strong economic development program. "We must continue to strive to make Roanoke a place where our young people will have the opportunity and desire to return after their graduation," he said.
Musser continues to be a skeptic on taxes. He has reminded voters that he tried unsuccessfully last year to persuade council to reduce the real estate tax rate by 2 cents per $100 assessed value, but he was supported only by Bowers.
During the campaign, Musser has debated the merits of a tax cut with Councilman James Trout, a Democrat who is seeking re-election as an independent. Trout said a tax cut would have meant less money for police protection and other services, but Musser has countered that the city ended the past fiscal year with several million dollars left over, so no cuts in services would have been required.
Again this year, Musser wants council to consider a real estate tax cut even though he supports City Manager Robert Herbert's recommended $1.3 million package of tax and fee increases to provide more money next year to schools and emergency rescue services.
Musser is running on a ticket with Harvey and William White, a School Board member. Also running are Roland "Spanky" Macher, a Republican, and Cecil McClanahan, an independent.
The Democrats say they support a strong school system despite suggestions by some school officials that they favor tax cuts at the expense of schools. "Contrary to what you might hear from some sources, this team is a pro-education team," Musser has told voters.
He has cited his efforts to obtain more state money for schools in his position as chairman of the Virginia Municipal League's Education Policy Committee. He has defended the Democrats' record on funding for schools in recent years.
\ IN PROFILE\ HOWARD E. MUSSER\ Party: Democratic\ Age: 60\ Profession: Retired General Electric finance supervisor.\ Education and background: Bachelor's degree in education, Emory & Henry College. Korean War veteran. City Council member since 1982 and vice mayor in 1982-84 and 1986-88. Consolidation negotiator for the city. Chairman of the Virginia Municipal League Education Policy Committee and Roanoke Valley Cable Television Committee.\ Issues: Running on record of support for economic development, tax cuts and better pension benefits for city workers. Stresses the need for strong economic-development program to create more jobs and broader tax base to help ease tax burden on homeowners. Thinks merger with Roanoke County is necessary to help ensure the valley's economic health.\ Quote: "When all of the dust has settled from the rhetoric about schools, one fact is first and foremost - and that is that the ultimate responsibility for the education of our children lies with our very capable and learned teachers."
Keywords:
PROFILE POLITICS
by CNB