Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, January 16, 1993 TAG: 9301160296
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A5 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
REVENUE POST TO STIR BATTLE FOR NOMINATION
A political fight is shaping up for the Democratic Party nomination for Roanoke commissioner of revenue, a post that will become vacant because Republican Jerome S. Howard won't seek re-election this year.Howard said Friday he won't seek an eighth term this year. He has been commissioner for 28 years.
The Democratic battle is expected to involve the same two foes who fought for the party's endorsement four years ago - David Anderson and Marsha Compton Fielder.
Anderson, chief deputy in the city treasurer's office, beat Fielder, a deputy commissioner of revenue in Roanoke County, for the party nomination.
Anderson won almost 40 percent of the vote in losing to Howard, a popular Republican who has been challenged only twice in his political career.
Fielder said she will seek the party nomination again. And Anderson said he is considering another bid for the post.
Fielder is the daughter of Wayne Compton, county commissioner of revenue, but she lives in the city. She has worked in the county commissioner's office for 13 years.
"I'm talking to different groups to see how much support I have," Anderson said.
Anderson has worked for the city for 24 years, including 16 in the treasurer's office and eight in the finance department.
Howard, who hinted earlier that he might retire, said Friday he has decided that "28 years is long enough" for him.
Howard, 71, has notified GOP leaders of his decision. He is the only Republican among the city's five constitutional officers.
When Howard sought re-election in 1989, he came under attack by the Democrats for lax procedures that they said allowed some taxpayers to avoid paying all of the taxes they owed.
But Howard dismissed the criticism as political rhetoric, saying it was part of a campaign by some city administrators who wanted him out of office.
William Fralin, chairman of a GOP committee seeking candidates for commissioner of revenue, said Friday that party officials are seeking a candidate to run for Howard's post.
The commissioner levies business, personal property and real estate taxes. He also processes 5,000 applications a year for city business, professional and occupational licenses.
The commissioner also administers the real-estate tax freeze for elderly homeowners.
Three other constitutional officers, all Democrats, will seek election this year: Treasurer Gordon Peters, Sheriff Alvin Hudson and Commonwealth's Attorney Don Caldwell.
Peters has been treasurer for 16 years; Hudson, sheriff, 16 years; and Caldwell, commonwealth's attorney, 14 years.
Fralin said the Republicans hope to have a full slate of candidates for the constitutional officers.
"We are actively engaged in seeking candidates for the offices. Given our recent success [in other campaigns], I would hope we would have candidates," Fralin said.
Circuit Court Clerk Arthur "Bert" Crush, the fifth constitutional officer, won't be up for election this year. The clerk serves an eight-year term.
Crush, a Democrat, won the post in a special election last year for the remaining four years in Patsy Testerman's term. Testerman took early retirement in 1991.
Keywords:
POLITICS
Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.