Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 4, 1992 TAG: 9203040244
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER MUNICIPAL WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Musser, who was beaten by Bowers for the party's nomination, said at a news conference Tuesday that he won't make an independent bid for mayor because a private polling by his supporters indicated that he probably could not win a three-way race.
He said the results show Republican Willis "Wick" Anderson running stronger than he expected, but he did not release details.
Musser said he will not support Bowers in the May 5 election because he has "fundamental differences" with his council colleague on political philosophy and the role of a mayor.
Musser also said he will not seek re-election when his term expires July 1, 1994, and that he will not run for any public office again.
He also raised the possibility that he might resign from council after the May election. He added that he won't decide on that until after the election, and he was unclear about what might influence his decision.
Bowers said he expects the Democrats to be united in the campaign, and he doesn't think Musser's decision will hurt his chances.
"With the fine ticket that we have, I don't foresee a split in the party. I expect the party to work together," Bowers said Tuesday.
Musser, 62, cited his differences with Bowers in political philosophy and style. He said he has been a Democrat all of his life, but there are "some things that transcend party politics."
Musser took several shots at Bowers, suggesting that Bowers would undermine Roanoke's council-manager form of government by interfering with the daily administration of city government. According to the city charter, the city manager is the chief administrative official and City Council only sets policy.
Musser cited Bowers' efforts in recent years to get certain streets repaved as an example of such interference.
"I don't like the way [Bowers] operates. I don't buy it, and I don't think it is good for the city," Musser said. "The mayor can't demand that the city manager do something."
Bowers, reacting to Musser's charge, said he has been a strong supporter of the council-manager form of government and denied that he has interfered with the city manager.
Musser also hinted that he thought Bowers would use the position of mayor for partisan purposes or to further his own political ambition.
In an effort to show party unity, Bowers appeared Tuesday with two of his Democratic running mates, Renee Anderson and James Trout, to answer reporters' questions. Councilman Beverly Fitzpatrick Jr., the other Democrat on the ticket, was out of town Tuesday.
Before the party nominated a candidate, most Democratic elected officials in the city endorsed Musser. Since then, most officials have switched their support to Bowers, including U.S. Rep. Jim Olin, state Dels. Clifton Woodrum and Victor Thomas, Sheriff Alvin Hudson and Treasurer Gordon Peters.
Bowers said he will try to win the support of other Democrats who supported Musser. "We are a big and diverse party, and my goal is to reach out to as many voters as I can," he said.
Anderson, the GOP nominee, said he thinks Musser's decision will make it easier for voters to focus on candidates and the issues. Asked whether he or Bowers benefits more, Anderson said Musser's staying out of the race "will definitely have an effect, but it is difficult to know how it will cut."
Musser also said Tuesday that he will resign from the city Democratic Committee if party leaders request it because of his lack of support for Bowers.
But Bowers said he does not expect Democratic leaders to ask for a resignation. "I don't anticipate that anyone will be leaving the party" or will be asked to leave, Bowers said.
Musser was angered by recent remarks by C.W. Toney, a labor leader who was quoted as saying he hoped that Musser and Councilman James Harvey would return to the Democratic Party. Harvey, who backed Musser for mayor, also has said he will not support Bowers.
Toney, who heads Local 891 of the painters' union and the Southwest Virginia Building Trades Council, helped organize the large turnout of Bowers supporters at the Feb. 22 mass meeting.
Toney, who is vice chairman of the Democratic Committee, said workers supported Bowers because he has said he would try to create decent-paying jobs with fringe benefits.
Musser took issue with a newspaper editorial this week that suggested he was withholding support for Bowers and delaying his decision on running as an independent because of political jealousy.
"I think that the people who know me know better," he said.
Musser said he put off his announcement for a week so he and his advisers could analyze whether an independent bid could succeed. He said he received nearly 100 phone calls from people urging him to run, including many who did not attend the Democratic mass meeting.
No independent candidates filed for mayor by the 7 p.m. Tuesday deadline. Only one independent candidate for council, Michael Bishop, filed by the deadline, and he will be the only independent on the May 5 ballot.
Other candidates on the ballot are Republican council candidates Elizabeth Bowles, Beverly Lambert and Delvis "Mac" McCadden.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB