Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, June 5, 1993 TAG: 9306050338
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Musser said Friday that "I'm leaning to running - and it is likely I will - but I've just got to make sure of my base of support" by talking with a few more people.
He has already started mapping campaign strategy with key supporters to beat Democrat Marsha Fielder.
Musser has also started circulating petitions to obtain the necessary signatures of 125 registered voters to run as an independent. "I'm working on that," Musser said, adding he doesn't anticipate any problem in getting the signatures by Tuesday, the deadline for candidates to file.
If Musser enters the race as expected, he will leave the Democratic Party and run as an independent. He threatened a similar move last year to run for mayor after losing a nomination fight to Mayor David Bowers.
The Republicans will not field a candidate for either commissioner of revenue or the three other constitutional officers.
Political insiders said Musser would likely run better in a two-way race than a three-way contest because he could pick up the support of Republican and independent voters.
Musser can run for commissioner of revenue without having to resign his council seat. If he wins the post, however, he would have to resign from council by Jan. 1, when he became commissioner. His current council term ends June 30, 1994.
This is not the first time Musser has been interested in the commissioner's post.
A retired finance officer at the General Electric plant, Musser ran against Republican Jerome Howard in 1969 for the post. Howard is retiring this year after 28 years as commissioner. Musser said Friday he considered running for the post four years ago if Howard had retired then. "This is not something that I just thought of doing," he said.
Most Democratic leaders are expected to support Fielder, who has worked in the Roanoke County commissioner of revenue's office for 13 years. She beat David Anderson, deputy city treasurer, for the party's nomination.
Bowers and Vice Beverly Fitzpatrick Jr. have told Fielder they will support her. Bowers stayed out of the nomination fight between Anderson and Fielder because he said he has received support from both in the past.
The commissioner of revenue levies business, personal property and real estate taxes and processes applications for business, professional and occupational licenses. The commissioner also administers the real-estate tax freeze for elderly homeowners.
by CNB