Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 26, 1993 TAG: 9305260113
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Musser confirmed Tuesday that he might enter the race, but said he won't make a decision until next week.
"I won't deny that I'm considering it, but I'm not sure," he said.
Marsha Fielder's recent victory in the fight for the Democratic nomination for commissioner has fueled speculation that Musser or another well-known candidate might enter the race.
Fielder beat David Anderson, deputy city treasurer, by 23 votes at a mass meeting 10 days ago that attracted nearly 700 people.
Most Democratic leaders supported Anderson, but Fielder beat him with strong support from labor unions.
A year ago, Musser irritated some Democrats because he refused to support Mayor David Bowers after Musser lost the battle for the party's nomination for mayor.
Musser considered an independent bid for mayor, but decided not to run because polls showed he was unlikely to win in a three-way race.
There are no announced Republican candidates for commissioner of revenue, but the filing deadline - June 8 - is still two weeks away.
Jerome Howard, Republican who has been commissioner for 28 years, is retiring.
GOP leaders said they are talking with potential candidates, but none wants to be identified now.
Anderson said Tuesday that he won't run as an independent, but he has not decided whether he will support Fielder.
Musser, a Democrat and council member for 11 years, ran for commissioner of revenue once before when he challenged Howard in 1969. Howard won more than 60 percent of the vote.
Musser has been vice mayor three times, having led in the balloting each time he has run for council.
If he runs, Musser said his financial background would be helpful. He is a retired finance supervisor for the General Electric plant in Salem, having worked there 34 years.
Musser said he also is familiar with city finances because of his years on council.
Fielder has 13 years of experience in Roanoke County's commissioner of revenue office.
Fielder said she will try to bring her party together for the November election. She will seek the backing of Anderson's supporters.
Bowers had remained neutral in the battle for the party's nomination for commissioner of revenue, but he now is backing Fielder. He has offered to help Fielder unite the party.
Bowers stayed out of the battle between Anderson and Fielder because he said he had received support from both in the past.
Three city Democrats seeking re-election in November's election are Sheriff Alvin Hudson, Treasurer Gordon Peters and Commonwealth's Attorney Don Caldwell.
The Republicans have not decided whether they will have candidates for those posts.
Keywords:
POLITICS
Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.