Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, February 22, 1992 TAG: 9202240181
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER MUNICIPAL WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
ROANOKE DEMOCRATS GET THEIR SAY
Now it's time to choose a winner.The campaign for the Democratic Party nomination for mayor is over.
Today, Roanoke Democrats will select either Vice Mayor Howard Musser or Councilman David Bowers to be their mayoral candidate in the May 5 election.
Both candidates were confident on the eve of the party's mass meeting at William Fleming High School.
Appearing together Friday on a radio talk show, they answered call-in questions and made last-minute appeals to supporters to attend the meeting.
"The message I'm hearing is that the people want a change, just as voters in the New Hampshire [presidential primary earlier this week] said it was a time for a change," Bowers said.
"The issue is whether it will be business as usual or will the people take back City Hall," he said.
Musser said he has been encouraged by the endorsements and support he has received from most Democratic officeholders and a black voters' organization this week.
Musser said the issue is which candidate can provide experienced, mature and responsible leadership.
Also today, the Democrats will select three candidates for City Council from a field of six aspirants: Renee Anderson, Beverly Fitzpatrick, Steve Goodwin, Ted Key, James Trout and Rev. J. Eugene Young.
There are no official slates for today's meeting, but Musser has joined forces with three council candidates - Fitzpatrick, Goodwin and Young - to form a coalition that will constitute an unofficial ticket.
Sample ballots will be distributed at the meeting urging voters to support Musser, Fitzpatrick, Goodwin and Young. Fitzpatrick confirmed Friday that the candidates are working together.
The mayoral contest is expected to generate the largest turnout for a Democratic mass meeting in more than two decades.
"It will probably be at least 1,000 people and could be as high as 2,000 or even more," said George McMillan, acting chairman of the Democratic party.
McMillan said there is no way to gauge voter interest because this is the first contest for the Democratic nomination for mayor since the 1960s.
In the final days of the campaign, Musser and Bowers have used newspaper and radio advertisements to urge their supporters to attend. The impact of these ads on the size of the crowd won't be known until today, party officials said.
The weather could be a factor. The forecast for today is partly sunny with the temperature in the low 50s to low 60s, which is likely to help increase the crowd.
Registration will begin at 9 a.m. and end at 11 a. m. Those standing in line at 11 will be allowed to register and vote. But no one will be allowed to join the line after 11.
Any registered voter who signs a pledge not to oppose the party's nominees in the May 5 election can attend and vote.
Party officials will use a copy of the city's list of registered voters to make sure that only registered voters participate. All participants will be checked against the registration list, McMillan said.
Voters should bring either their voter-registration cards or other identification with them.
Voting will be done by paper ballots. Both the mayoral and council candidates will be on the same ballot. Three thousand ballots have been printed.
The meeting will begin with parliamentary matters, the selection of a chairman and adoption of rules for the proceedings. Next will come the nominating and seconding speeches for the mayoral and council candidates.
Party officials will try to expedite the meeting, but McMillan has warned voters to be prepared for delays. Voting probably won't begin until noon at the earliest. And McMillan said it will take at least one hour - and maybe two hours - to count the ballots.
"People will have to be patient. We will hurry it as fast as possible, but it will take time," McMillan said.
Although the mayoral candidates are confident, each was concerned about factors that could affect the outcome.
Musser's backers were worried that his elderly supporters won't come out for the meeting. Age has been an issue during the campaign. Musser, 62, has stressed that he is a "mature and experienced" candidate, subtly contrasting himself with Bowers, who is 39.
Bowers' backers were worried that some Republicans and independents might come out to vote for Musser. Voters in Virginia are not required to vote by party, so there is no way to verify that all those who attend are Democrats.
The mayoral contest has overshadowed the campaign for the nomination for the three council seats up for election in May.
But the council candidates have worked quietly to get their supporters to attend today's meeting.
The field includes four candidates making their first try for public office, two blacks, one woman, a councilman seeking a new term and a former councilman trying to make a political comeback.
Two candidates - Fitzpatrick, a current councilman, and Trout, a former councilman - are well known, but the others have low name recognition. Most of the newcomers haven't been active in city politics.
DEMOCRATIC MASS MEETING\ AT A GLANCE\ WHAT: Democratic Mass Meeting\ WHERE: William Fleming High School gymnasium\ WHEN: Today.\ REGISTRATION: 9 a.m.-11 a.m.\ DOORS CLOSE: 11 a.m. (those in line still may register)\ PURPOSE: To choose the Democratic candidate for mayor and the three Democratic candidates to run for open City Council seats.\ WHO CAN PARTICIPATE: Any registered city voter who pledges not to oppose Democratic candidates in the next election.\ WHO'S RUNNING FOR MAYOR: Howard Musser, David Bowers.\ WHO'S RUNNING FOR COUNCIL: Renee Anderson, Beverly Fitzpatrick Jr., Steve Goodwin, Ted Key, James Trout, the Rev. J. Eugene Young.\ THE VOTE: By secret paper ballot.\ WHO WINS: Whoever gets the most votes for mayor becomes the Democratic nominee. The top three finishers in the council race win the Democratic slots on the May ballot.
Keywords:
POLITICS