FRIENDS EXPECT TAYLOR TO STEP DOWN

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

DATE: SATURDAY, January 18, 1992                   TAG: 9201180335
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By JOEL TURNER MUNICIPAL WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium
FRIENDS EXPECT TAYLOR TO STEP DOWN
Roanoke Mayor Noel Taylor continues to leave open the possibility that he might seek a new term, but close friends and supporters worry that he has already decided to retire in June.
They fear it may be too late to persuade him to seek an unprecedented fifth term as mayor.
"I am not closing the door or saying that absolutely, under no circumstances, would I run," Taylor said Friday.
But he said again that he is seriously considering quitting when his current term ends, partly because of his health.
Several sources close to the mayor said Friday that they expect him to quit.
"It doesn't sound good," said Robert Garland, a former councilman who has been mentioned as a Republican candidate if Taylor doesn't run.
Taylor, 67, is aware that many city residents want him to run. But the four-term mayor said he must consider several factors, including his health.
Taylor said now that he has the results from his medical tests, he's in a better position to determine whether he can handle the duties both as mayor and as minister of High Street Baptist Church.
Taylor has not disclosed his health problems, but he said Friday that he will not seek re-election if he doesn't think he can handle the mayoral duties.
"If I run, I want to be sure that I can give it my best. If I couldn't give it my best, it wouldn't be right for the city and the voters," he said.
Taylor expects to announce his decision in a week to 10 days. Garland said many people have urged Taylor to run because they think his experience is needed in the next several years as city officials try to cope with mounting pressure on city finances.
Gary Bowman, chairman of the city Republican Committee, said Friday that potential candidates for the GOP nomination for mayor and three City Council seats up for election this spring have been invited to speak to the committee Tuesday. Taylor also has been invited.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB