Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 8, 1992 TAG: 9201080296
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By JOEL TURNER MUNICIPAL WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
MAYOR'S CONTEST SLOWS POTENTIAL COUNCIL HOPEFULS
They say they've got plenty of potential candidates, but there is one hitch.Many would-be candidates for Roanoke City Council are waiting to see how the contest for mayor shapes up before they go public with their plans.
Leaders in both the Democratic and Republican parties hope to have candidates for all three seats in the May 5 election, which could shift the balance of power on council.
The Democrats have a 5-2 majority, but that could change because the mayor's job and three council seats will be up for election. The mayor also is a member of council, but there is a separate vote for the position.
With the election only four months off, there are no declared candidates for the council seats held by David Bowers, Elizabeth Bowles and Beverly Fitzpatrick Jr.
Bowers, a Democrat, is running for mayor and won't seek re-election to his council seat. He could face Mayor Noel Taylor, a Republican who hasn't decided whether to seek a fifth term.
Fitzpatrick, a Democrat, plans to seek re-election to his council seat if he doesn't run for mayor, but he has made no formal announcement. Bowles, a Republican, hasn't decided whether to seek a new term.
Names being mentioned as possible council candidates include Delvis "Mac" McCadden, district sales manager for USAir; Renee Anderson, a former employee in the City Clerk's office; James Trout, a former councilman; and Roland Macher, the owner of a restaurant chain who ran for council two years ago.
McCadden, a former teacher who applied for the School Board two years ago, said Tuesday he is considering running for council, but hasn't made a decision. Anderson said she is weighing her options. Trout and Macher said they may also run.
Some potential candidates want to know who is likely to be the mayoral candidate for their party.
"I've got several people interested in running, but most everybody is waiting to see what happens in the mayor's race," said the Rev. Carl Tinsley, chairman of the city Democratic Committee.
"I'm hoping we'll have a full ticket," Tinsley said Tuesday.
Gary Bowman, chairman of the GOP Committee, said his party has "plenty of candidates, but some people are waiting to see what the composition of the ticket is going to be."
GOP leaders hope to use Brandon's Bell upset win in the state Senate race this past fall to help revitalize the party and regain a majority on council.
A group of young Republicans is hoping to reverse the party's fortunes in council politics.
The deadline for candidates to file is March 5, two months before the election. Both political parties are expected to choose their nominees in late February or early March.
Keywords:
POLITICS