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

DATE: MONDAY, January 20, 1992                   TAG: 9201200225
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

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SISTER CITIES PROVIDE EXCUSE FOR TRAVEL

ROANOKE has two so-called sister cities, one in Korea and one in Africa. Now I read someone is courting the Russians with the prospect of one there.

Why not establish one in each country on this planet, and of course every island republic? When our top officials get bored with the everyday routine of such trivial chores as running the city government, they can trot off to some faraway place, bow and present gifts, all on the taxpayers of course. Then the return visits, more bowing, more gifts, and again the taxpayers can pick up the tab. Pago-Pago would make a nice one to visit during the winter months.

No one would miss these officials, since if a decision is to be made, we could appoint a committee as in the past and let them come up with the answers. Or we could pay some consulting firm a huge amount of the taxpayer's money to make a decision that the top officials are paid to make.

The city of Roanoke is going down the tube. We need a clean sweep at the top. We need leaders who can bring us out of this recession, and once again Roanoke will lead instead of being stuck in mediocrity.

We need leaders who have enough backbone to let the department heads run their respective departments and hire, fire and promote without political interference. I suggest the next time a visit is made outside the good old USA, those top officials should stay there; we would all profit from it. JERRY D. RICE ROANOKE

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