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

DATE: MONDAY, July 2, 1990                   TAG: 9007020257
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A4   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: LESLIE TAYLOR STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

SALEM COUNCIL RE-ELECTS MAYOR

James E. Taliaferro and W. "Mac" Green were elected to their ninth terms as Salem's mayor and vice mayor Monday by their fellow council members.

Taliaferro becomes the first council member to serve more than eight terms as mayor. James I. Moyer, now a retired General District Court judge, served as mayor from 1948 to 1964.

Taliaferro, who was first elected to council in 1972 and as mayor in 1974, called his election as mayor by his peers the "highest honor." Taliaferro said he preferred being elected by fellow council members over a system in which top officials are selected in what he called a "popularity contest."

Green, who was first elected to council in 1974 and as vice mayor that same year, said he appreciated the faith that council members showed in re-electing him vice mayor.

In a related matter, Green and Councilman Carl E. "Sonny" Tarpley were sworn in to their fifth terms on council by Roanoke County Circuit Judge G.O. "Tommy" Clemens. Both Green and Tarpley won their bids for re-election in the May 1 councilmanic election.

The terms of mayor and vice mayor are two years. A council member's term runs for four years.

In other business, council adopted a resolution providing for the issuance and sale of a $5 million general obligation public improvement bond. Bond money will be used primarily for improvements to the sanitary and storm water sewer system but money also has been earmarked to upgrade the city computer system, improve downtown lighting, construct a water storage tank and improve the main fire station.

by CNB