Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 20, 1992 TAG: 9202200374
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By JOEL TURNER MUNICIPAL WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
OLIN, DELEGATES, BLACK GROUP BACKING MUSSER FOR MAYOR
Roanoke Vice Mayor Howard Musser has won endorsements in his campaign for mayor from most Democratic city officeholders and from a black voters' organization.Musser supporters include Rep. Jim Olin and state Dels. Victor Thomas and Clifton Woodrum.
In a paid advertisement in today's Roanoke Times & World-News, the Democratic officials urge voters to attend the party's mass meeting Saturday and vote for Musser.
The congressman and state legislators said they "enthusiastically endorse" Musser in his campaign against Councilman David Bowers.
The Peoples Voters League, a non-partisan black organization, also is backing Musser.
"We feel Howard is the best person to handle the mayor's post after Mayor [Noel] Taylor retires," said A. Byron Smith, president of the voters' group.
"We have nothing against [Bowers], but we think Howard has the ability to work with all groups," Smith said Wednesday. "He is a person we can sit down and talk with."
The Peoples Voters League was established in the 1950s to help build support for community and political issues affecting black voters. It frequently endorses candidates.
Both Musser and Bowers have made appeals to black voters. About 25 percent of the city's voters are black.
Councilman William White, a black council member, is supporting Bowers.
Musser said the endorsements are a confidence booster as he heads into the mass meeting.
He considers the Peoples Voters League support to be significant because he said "it provides a good reading on the pulse of the black community."
Four other Democratic city officeholders also have endorsed Musser: Councilman Beverly Fitzpatrick Jr., Sheriff Alvin Hudson, Councilman James Harvey and Treasurer Gordon Peters.
Keywords:
POLITICS