Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 3, 1992 TAG: 9203030240
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER MUNICIPAL WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Roanoke Vice Mayor Howard Musser, beaten by Councilman David Bowers in his bid to get the Democratic nomination for mayor, will announce today if he'll mount an independent campaign.
Democratic leaders said Monday that if he does, they fear Musser could split the party vote and boost Republican Willis "Wick" Anderson's chance of winning the May 5 election.
George McMillan, acting chairman of the city Democratic Committee, thinks Musser would hurt Bowers more than Anderson because a lot of independent voters who usually support Democratic candidates may vote for Musser.
"These people may not consider themselves to be Democrats, but they usually support Democratic candidates," McMillan said. "If Howard runs, they could vote for him and take away votes from David."
Musser, who will announce his decision at a news conference, said he has received more than 100 phone calls urging him to run. He has delayed his announcement twice while he tried to measure support for an independent bid.
Those who know Musser well say they would not be surprised either way. They said he has discussed the issue with close political allies and friends.
Today is the deadline for independents to file. Independent candidates can get on the ballot by filing petitions signed by 125 registered voters. Musser has authorized the circulation of petitions.
Musser said he will run only if he thinks he can win, saying that it was not his desire to act as a spoiler.
Bowers beat Musser by 191 votes (896-705) at the party's mass meeting Feb. 22 to become the Democratic nominee.
If Musser does decide to run, he'll do so against the wishes of Democratic officials.
"Most of us have tried to discourage him from running," said one party leader who did not want to be identified. "It's going to put a lot of people in an embarrassing situation if he runs."
Most elected Democratic officials in the city endorsed Musser for the nomination before the mass meeting, but say now that they will support Bowers.
Gary Bowman, chairman of the city Republican Committee, said Monday he also believes Musser would take more votes away from Bowers than Anderson.
"It could hurt Bowers because he has spent so much time trying to unify the party. If Musser runs, it would probably fracture the [Democratic Party]," Bowman said.
Like Bowers, Musser signed a statement before the Democrats' mass meeting that he did not intend to oppose any Democratic nominee in the May 5 election.
Bowers raised the loyalty issue before the meeting, saying he had heard that Musser had told some people that he might run as an independent if he did not win the nomination.
Musser dismissed the charge then as a campaign ploy. He said Bowers was trying to divert attention from the real issue - who had the experience and maturity to lead the city after Noel Taylor retires.
Before the mass meeting, Bowers told the Democratic Party's executive committee that he takes his party loyalty seriously. And he pledged to support all of the party's nominees. He said he would not run run for mayor under any circumstances if he did not win the nomination.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB