Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 2, 1990 TAG: 9005020419
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: MADELYN ROSENBERG NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
Gary Hancock, who was running unopposed for another two-year term as mayor, received 1,133 votes out of the 1,468 votes cast.
Charles Donald "Don" Crispin, 64, received 689 votes in his first bid for a political office and edged out James Neblett, an elementary school principal who has been on council for 15 years.
Crispin, who worked for 27 years at Lockheed Missile and Space Co., moved to Pulaski from California four years ago. Most of the council candidates had lived in town since birth.
"I'm glad it's over," Crispin said as results were announced at the Pulaski Fire Station. "I hope we can get a lot accomplished."
He said he hopes to help improve education so young people will stay here.
Crispin became interested in running for office after town council voted last June to rezone a residential portion of Memorial Drive to accommodate a shopping center.
"Memorial Drive helped, but I hope that was not the only issue people voted on," said Crispin, who lives in the neighborhood.
Neblett wished the new candidate success Tuesday night and said that he has no plans to run again in the future.
Nick Glenn, 38, received more votes than any other council candidate with 976.
"I'm pleasantly surprised," he said. "I think overall people have given us direction as to what they expect from us. It looks like an extremely promising council."
Andrew Graham, who is finishing up his 20th year on council, received 924 votes Tuesday and four more years in office.
"I'm real proud that people supported me," said Graham, 69. "I do the best I can . . . I hope I do what's best for the town."
Walter H. "Rocky" Schrader, who received 760 votes, will fill the remaining council seat. Schrader, 37, has served on council since 1986 and he said he is looking forward to another term.
"We've made significant progress on council in the last two to four years," he said. "People want it to continue."
Hancock was about the only candidate Tuesday night who didn't appear visibly nervous while waiting for election results.
Still, he said he was encouraged by the number of people who showed their confidence by voting for him.
"We've had a council that's worked closely and well together," he said. "We have had respect for each other and I don't envision [the election] changing that. We will try to work together to govern the town and make our goals a reality."
Losing candidates included Pauline "Polly" Mitchell, who was just 38 votes behind Crispin.
Mitchell served on council from 1980 to 1984 and ran unsuccessfully in 1986 and 1988.
Neblett received 609 votes, followed by Daniel Meadows, a local businessman and political newcomer who received 425 votes.
The Rev. E.G. Hinton, who also was making his first bid for a political office, took 237 votes.
Only 36 percent of the registered voters turned out for the election. The tally will not be official until this morning when the elections board goes over the results.The positions take effect July 1.
by CNB