
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, March 9, 1992                   TAG: 9203090130
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER MUNICIPAL WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

IT'S NOT AN ISSUE FOR GOP CANDIDATE'S FINANCES CALLED `A RED HERRING'

Republican Party candidates for Roanoke City Council and mayor won't make an issue of Democrat Renee Anderson's past financial problems that resulted in court actions against her.

"At this point, we have no intention of making an issue of it," Republican Councilwoman Elizabeth Bowles said Sunday.

Bowles said she had conferred with her running mates, Beverly Lambert, Delvis "Mac" McCadden and Willis "Wick" Anderson, the Republican candidate for mayor. The general consensus was that a candidate's past finances should not be an issue in the May 5 election, she said.

"From my personal perspective, it is not an appropriate issue," said Gary Bowman, chairman of the city Republican Committee. "I can't speak for everyone in the party, but I don't see it as an issue."

"There are plenty of substantive issues to be discussed without having to focus on the past finances" of a candidate, Bowman said. "This is a red herring that ought to be put to rest."

Bowman said he did not think Anderson's past troubles would be part of the GOP campaign strategy.

Anderson's Democratic running mates, Councilman Beverly Fitzpatrick Jr. and James Trout, had no comment.

Councilman David Bowers, the Democrats' nominee for mayor, was on his honeymoon and unavailable for comment.

Anderson, 28, said she does not think her past money problems would affect her ability to be a council member and doesn't think they should be a campaign issue. She said that many young people have similar financial pressures.

Thirteen court actions have been filed against Anderson in the past five years for the collection of debts. City officials said she also paid at least $1,035 in parking tickets in the past four years.

All the court actions for debts Anderson had incurred on rent, hospital bills and a student loan were dismissed after she paid the bills.

She is the only council candidate who had more than two court actions against them for collection of debts in recent years, according to an examination of court records of all council candidates.

Keywords:
POLITICS

by CNB