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

DATE: SATURDAY, September 25, 1993                   TAG: 9309250200
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

HERE ARE A FEW MORE COUNCIL HATS TO TOSS INTO THE RING

And there are a couple of new names: former state Sen. Granger Macfarlane, along with former council members Hampton Thomas and William Hubard.

The campaign is on to fill the vacancy on Roanoke City Council caused by the resignation of Vice Mayor Beverly Fitzpatrick Jr.

Mostly the talk and jockeying is behind the scenes. But there have already been some developments as Mayor David Bowers and council members begin their talks to select someone to fill Fitzpatrick's seat.

Glenn, chairman of the Roanoke Housing and Redevelopment Authority, said he is not interested in serving on council. The vice president of the Roanoke Gas Co. said the city's recent aborted effort to take over the gas company was not a factor in his decision.

Garland, a Republican who served on council for 24 years, said Friday he would be willing to fill Fitzpatrick's seat until a special election next year. He's not interested in running for the final two years of Fitzpatrick's term.

"I'm leaning to someone of Bob Garland's stature. I think someone like that would be an outstanding choice," said Councilman Delvis "Mac" McCadden, a Republican.

Taylor, a Republican who was mayor for 17 years before retiring for health reasons, said he would be willing to consider filling the vacancy on an interim basis. But he would not be a candidate in the special election.

If asked by council to accept the post, Taylor said he would seek the advice of his physicians. Taylor had prostate cancer, but he has responded well to treatment and the cancer has not spread. He said he feels good.

Taylor said he would accept the appointment only if the vote were unanimous. He does not want to cause any conflict on council, which will be left with four Democrats and two Republicans after Fitzpatrick departs.

Bowers said Friday the list of potential candidates is still changing as council begins deliberations on filling the seat.

Bowers said council has three choices:

Choose a former veteran council member.

Select a non-political person.

Appoint someone with a business background who is familiar with the issues facing the city.

Bowers would not say what choice he will recommend or whether he has someone in mind.

Bowers said he hopes council can fill the vacancy soon after Oct. 15 when Fitzpatrick leaves to become director of the New Century Council.

Macfarlane, the former state senator, said Friday he is willing to fill the post on an interim basis if asked. He, too, is not interested in running for the final two years of Fitzpatrick's term.

Other names being considered by council include Hampton Thomas, a lawyer who served 13 years as a council member, and William Hubard, the former director of Center in the Square and a retired Shenandoah Life Insurance Co. executive, who served 9 years on council. Thomas is a Democrat and Hubbard a Republican.

Steve Goodwin, who sought the Democratic nomination for a council seat last year, said he believes council should appoint someone who will not run in the special election.

If council selects someone who plans to run, it will provide an advantage for that person in the special election, Goodwin said. In addition, the person would probably spend a lot of time campaigning and political grandstanding in the next eight months, he said.

If council members ask him to fill the vacancy, Goodwin said, he would have to determine whether he would be free to run in May's special election.