Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, June 22, 1990                   TAG: 9006220775
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-12   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

THREE REASONS FOR OPPOSING MERGER

First, streamlining was supposed to be the reason for going to all of this trouble. The idea was to provide better services from government for less money. If the referendum passes, costs will actually rise, and services will undoubtedly "slide" for the first several years.

Second, a real consolidation of valley governments would also include Salem, Vinton, and perhaps even parts of the adjacent counties that are a bona fide part of the valley. The plan before us now is merely a grand scheme for the annexation of the county by the city, with only token roles for others.

Third, there is a serious misconception about what a new government might be able to do for our local economy. The primary role of government is to provide services that can't be delivered more efficiently and effectively by any other means. It's not meant to be the front for an area's economic development. Experts are finally admitting that government interference in an economy simply hasn't accomplished what was called for in theory.

Big government in the valley may boost some of the big egos within our political and business leadership. However, it will be at the expense of private citizens; and, it will not provide any better services, nor any better economic health, than what we already enjoy.

The best thing anyone can do for our valley is to quit belittling it and trying to turn it into another Richmond, Tidewater or Fairfax County. Private citizens and businesses like it here because we aren't like those other areas. We should continue to capitalize on this through cooperation, not consolidation! ED KOHINKE SR. President of Mason Cove Civic Club and member of CAM ROANOKE COUNTY