Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 14, 1992 TAG: 9203140369
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The first time the mayoral and council candidates appeared together, Thursday night, they heard complaints that were often framed in the form of questions.
The candidates appeared to be prepared for some queries, but not others at the forum by the Raleigh Court Civic League that has become a traditional part of council campaigns.
One man in the audience wanted to know what the city could do about burned buildings that stand vacant for years.
"That is a tough question, and I don't have a good answer for it," said Councilman David Bowers, a Democrat running for mayor.
He said the city should be enforcing its building and fire codes to help deal with the problem, and that it also could designate neighborhoods with dilapidated housing as redevelopment areas to help eliminate blighted conditions.
If all else failed, Bowers said, he would use the mayor's post to try to personally persuade owners to fix up their property.
Citing the frequent bickering among localities in the Roanoke Valley, one man in the audience wanted to know what Republican Willis Anderson would do to help encourage governmental cooperation.
Anderson appeared to anticipate the question, saying that in one of his first speeches as a 29-year-old council member in 1958, he advocated the consolidation of Roanoke and Roanoke County.
He predicted that county voters, who rejected merger by more than 2-1 two years ago, will ultimately lead any future consolidation movement. But he did not say when he expects that to happen.
"We are moving toward a functional consolidation - by cooperating on the landfill, airports and libraries - that will lead to a political consolidation," Anderson said.
Councilwoman Elizabeth Bowles got the complaint about rising real estate assessments and tax bills.
"We hear that over and over. Council doesn't have the prerogative to change the assessments," Bowles said.
She said state law says houses should be assessed at 100 percent of fair-market value, but studies show that houses in the city on the average are assessed at 91 percent of market value. So property owners are getting a break, she said.
Bowles, a Republican seeking her fifth term, said council can reduce the tax rate to help offset the rising assessments. But she cautioned that council might have to cut services if the tax rate is lowered.
Several complaints focused on crime and what, if anything, the city can or should do to help make neighborhoods safer.
It provided an opportunity for Delvis "Mac" McCadden, a Republican seeking elected office for the first time, to remind the audience that he is president of the Roanoke Valley Crime Line.
People who have information about a crime can call Crime Line and provide police with details that can help solve crimes. McCadden said Crime Line has helped solve crimes in the Raleigh Court neighborhood.
Compared to many cities, Roanoke's crime rate is low, but it can be reduced even lower, McCadden said.
Beverly Lambert, a Republican, agreed, adding the city should strengthen its law enforcement.
Another woman complained about the city's parks and recreation programs, saying the city should put more emphasis on them.
Lambert said she would also support more money for parks and recreation, saying parks help make neighborhoods more liveable. She said she has a dream of Roanoke as a place with safe neighborhoods, excellent schools and flourishing businesses.
Asked what has prepared her to be on council, Democrat Renee Anderson said she worked in the city clerk's office for five years and has a good understanding of city government.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB