Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 26, 1992 TAG: 9202260348
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
COMPETITION AGAIN IN CITY POLITICS
ROANOKE is witnessing something absent for too long: full-strength competition for City Council. Not since 1984 has Roanoke seen a race for mayor, or as many as six serious contenders for the three non-mayoral council seats that come open every two years.The city is getting all that this year, and in two doses.
Dose No. 1 was completed Saturday, when city Democrats nominated Councilman David Bowers over Vice Mayor Howard Musser as their mayoral candidate and chose three of six candidates for the non-mayoral seats.
Dose No. 2 commenced Tuesday night, when city Republicans nominated a full slate of their own to run against the Democratic ticket in the May 5 general election.
Congratulations are due to Bowers for winning the Democratic nomination Saturday to succeed retiring Republican Mayor Noel Taylor, and to incumbent Councilman Bev Fitzpatrick, newcomer Renee Anderson and former Councilman James Trout for winning the other nominations.
Congratulations are due the Republicans for recruiting an impressive slate of candidates and re-establishing their party as a potentially potent force in city politics. Former Mayor Wick Anderson will oppose Bowers; Councilwoman Elizabeth Bowles and newcomers Beverly Lambert and Mac McCadden will take on Fitzpatrick, Anderson and Trout. In each of the past three elections, the GOP has been two names shy of a full slate.
Among Bowers' keys to the nomination was his ability to corral the "send 'em a message" vote - or, as it was put this year, "take back City Hall." On the other hand, Fitzpatrick, a Musser ally this year, captured more mass-meeting votes than any other candidate, including Bowers.
A former mayor, Republican Anderson's candidacy is automatically blessed with legitimacy. On the other hand, he hasn't won an election since the '60s, and was a Democrat until the early '80s.
In other words, questions remain. One - how well do even heavily attended mass meetings reflect the sentiments of the general electorate? - may be answered May 5. Answers to another - what do the candidates have in mind for the city's future? - shouldn't wait until then.
Who lives where, who mows his own lawn, which politician crossed which politician, who spoke to which group and who declined: Such stuff isn't important compared with the overarching issue of where Roanoke is to go from here and how the city is to get there.
It is the latter issue to which the mayoral and council candidates must now speak. Roanoke's return to competitive politics should be more than a rehashing of old grievances, personality clashes and appeals to class resentment. The election should speak not just to the advancement or inhibition of individual political careers, but to the future of the city.
Keywords:
POLITICS