Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 15, 1992 TAG: 9201150299
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By JOEL TURNER MUNICIPAL WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
FORMER SECRETARY TO RUN FOR COUNCIL
Renee Anderson is trying to make political history in Roanoke, but says she doesn't feel like a pioneer.She wants to become the first black woman to win a seat on City Council - and only the third woman elected to the governing body.
Anderson, a former executive secretary in the City Clerk's office, will seek the Democratic Party nomination for one of the three council seats up for election in May.
She downplayed the historical and racial issue at a news conference Tuesday announcing her candidacy.
"I am [running for council] as a human being, not as a black woman," she said.
Anderson, 28, said she will bring new energy and a fresh perspective to council.
Her campaign will focus on education, economic development, quality jobs and affordable health care for city residents, she said.
This is her first try at elected office, but she said her 5 1/2 years as executive secretary in the clerk's office gave her extensive knowledge of council's role and how the city works.
She avoided partisan politics while working in the clerk's office, but now she is a member of the city Democratic Committee and a precinct leader.
Anderson left her city job last November because she was suffering from thoracic outlet syndrome - nerve damage to her arms.
Doctors recommended that she change jobs because typing aggravates the condition. But her work-related disability wouldn't interfere with her duties as a council member, even though it is painful at times, she said.
A Roanoke native, Anderson attended Virginia Tech for three years, concentrating in business administration and marketing, before she began working for Roanoke in 1986.
The seats up for election in May are held by Councilman David Bowers, Elizabeth Bowles and Beverly Fitzpatrick Jr.
Bowers, a Democrat who is seeking his party's nomination for mayor and won't seek re-election to his council seat, attended Anderson's news conference. Bowers said he was there to congratulate her for seeking the party nomination.
Anderson is the first person to formally seek the Democratic nomination, but the Rev. Carl Tinsley, party chairman, expects the Democrats to have full a ticket of candidates for all of the seats.
Keywords:
POLITICS