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

DATE: FRIDAY, April 30, 1993                   TAG: 9304300311
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: GREG EDWARDS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

INCUMBENT COULD FACE RACE FOR SEAT

Joe Stewart, who has represented southeast Montgomery County on the Board of Supervisors for 13 years, announced Thursday that he will seek re-election.

Stewart, however, probably will face a fight for the Republican Party's nomination as he seeks his fourth term in the District C seat.

Steve Fijalkowski, a state trooper who lives in Shawsville, said he has decided to oppose Stewart for the nomination if he can get permission from his state police supervisors.

County Republicans will pick candidates for this November's District A, C and D supervisors races at a mass meeting on May 8 at the county courthouse.

Stewart, a 78-year-old farmer and livestock dealer, said he believes his long experience as a public official, lifelong residency in Montgomery County and continuing interest in county issues make him a good candidate for re-election.

Stewart is vice-chairman of the board.

Fijalkowski, 38, said he is challenging Stewart because he feels he can do a better job. Stewart ran unopposed in 1989.

A resident of the county for 11 years, Fijalkowski has two daughters in Shawsville High School and another at Shawsville Elementary School and has been active in school activities.

Fijalkowski said he doesn't feel like the political process works unless people are given a choice of candidates. He says he has talked with Stewart about the race and has no animosity toward him.

One thing he would like to tackle if elected, Fijalkowski said, is the illegal dumping of trash in his section of the county.

In District D, incumbent Supervisor Henry Jablonksi of Christiansburg is the only announced candidate. Republicans don't yet have a candidate to oppose incumbent Democratic Supervisor Jim Moore for the District A seat.

Steve Cochran, vice chairman of the county Democratic Party, said his party has no candidates yet for the District C and D seats and would welcome anyone who's interested. The mass meeting for those seats has not been scheduled but will be held in late May or early June.

The District A candidate - at this time Moore has no in-party opposition - will be picked May 15 at Blacksburg High School, when Montgomery and Giles Democrats also gather to pick a candidate for the 12th District House of Delegates seat.

Keywords:
POLITICS

by CNB