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

DATE: TUESDAY, March 24, 1992                   TAG: 9203240239
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV1   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: CATHRYN McCUE NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG                                LENGTH: Short

RAY CHISHOLM WON'T BE AMONG PLANNING COMMISSION APPOINTEES

Chisholm, who served one four-year term on the commission, had volunteered to continue serving on the commission, he said Monday.

"I told them I was not real wild about it," he said. "That's not my favorite way to spend an evening."

But he wanted to stay on the commission because he believed he spoke for business people, said Chisholm, a developer and downtown bookstore owner.

"The council has generally been . . . anti-business, and I feel like I have presented a business perspective on the Planning Commission, and maybe I have done that too vigorously," he said.

Chisholm was often outspoken in his views and frequently voted in the minority or cast sole votes during his tenure on the commission.

In 1990, he launched an unsuccessful bid for council, targeting what he called the heavy influence of Virginia Tech on the council. Five of the seven council members are on Tech's payroll.

Other commission members whose terms end March 31 are J.D. Oliver, Georgia Anne Snyder-Falkinham, Easley Smith and Chairman William Claus. Smith asked not to be reappointed, said Town Clerk Donna Boone-Caldwell.

Mayor Roger Hedgepeth said the council had two highly qualified new candidates for the commission.

"Council did not second Ray's reappointment," he said.

Council will take formal action on the appointments at tonight's meeting.