Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 25, 1993 TAG: 9303250189
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By DAVID M. POOLE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
NICKENS SAYS HE'LL RUN AGAIN
Using part of the same speech he gave four years ago, Harry Nickens announced Wednesday that he will seek re-election to the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors.Nickens, a Democrat, said he still had "enthusiasm" for the job after 13 years as the board's Vinton District representative.
He apparently was not sufficiently enthused Wednesday to come up with a new sound-bite for his announcement speech at the Roanoke County Library branch in Vinton.
Nickens said he would run on his "record of solid accomplishments" and the "need for continued commitment to cost-effective delivery of quality governmental services."
The Democrat used the exact same lines in his 1989 announcement speech.
Nickens, 48, is the senior member of the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors. He was appointed in 1982 and was re-elected - each time without opposition - in 1983, 1985 and 1989.
So far, Nickens again has no opposition.
Nickens cited some of the county's accomplishments during his tenure, including recent revision of the zoning ordinance, a new regional landfill and the Spring Hollow reservoir.
Nickens has become the board's staunchest supporter of the Explore living-history state park, located in his district. He lobbied for the county to spend $350,000 to improve Rutrough Road to provide for a temporary entrance to Explore and wants the county to provide financial support for the project.
The Democrat said he still could be objective about Explore, even though he is now a member of the Virginia Recreational Facilities Authority Board, which oversees the state park.
Nickens is president of the College of Health Sciences at Community Hospital. He is married and the father of two grown daughters and a son, 12.
Two other board positions will be on the Nov. 2 ballot. Republican Lee Eddy is seeking re-election to the Windsor Hills District seat. Democrat Bob Johnson has not said whether he will seek to retain his Hollins District seat.