Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, October 26, 1993 TAG: 9310260313
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By RICK LINDQUIST STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
Among four incumbent candidates for local office, Turner alone faces opposition as she seeks a second term.
Radford's commissioner of the Revenue office - a ``constitutional office'' funded by both state and local money - handles an estimated $3 million to $4 million each year in local revenues and processes state income tax returns from city residents.
The office, which is full time, assesses and maintains records for personal property taxes, city business licenses, meal and real-estate taxes. It pays an annual salary of $40,894, which is set by the General Assembly.
Turner, 46, said that during her first term she saved both time and money by contracting with the National Automotive Dealers Association to assess motor vehicle personal property taxes. The job had been done manually.
Turner also said her office has a good relationship with the city treasurer's office, a factor she considers important to good taxpayer service. She and the treasurer designed a common form for both personal property taxes and motor vehicle decals.
``That has increased the filings in this office, and the treasurer says it has increased the sale of decals,'' she said.
Computerizing her office has boosted productivity and efficiency, and has improved service, she said. As as result, state income tax refunds go out in a matter of days, instead of weeks.
Among her other accomplishments, Turner cites her success last fall in getting additional money from the state Compensation Board to run the commissioner's office through the end of the year after City Council turned down her request for an extra $2,800. The Compensation Board is supposed to pay at least half of the cost of running Turner's office.
After council gave her only $612, she got help from Del. Tommy Baker, R-Radford, and Sen. Malfourd ``Bo'' Trumbo, R-Fincastle, to get most of the additional money.
Mayor Tom Starnes was among those on council who balked at Turner's request and suggested she consider cutting personnel instead.
It was also Starnes, a Republican, who urged Lynn Duncan to oppose Turner.
An employee of Hercules, Inc. at the Radford Army Ammunition Plant, Duncan, 32, also views the potential job as security, in case she is laid off from the arsenal.
Duncan describes herself as an experienced accountant with a degree in accounting and statistics from Radford University. Among her qualifications, she points to her seven years experience in the accounting department at Hercules plus other work in cost accounting.
Duncan believes the city should provide greater incentives to students to buy city decals for their vehicles. ``If they're living here nine months out of the year ... they should pay their taxes here,'' she said.
Duncan, a widow, is a Radford native.
She said she has no real complaints about how Turner's been doing her job, but believes the local Republican party might.
``The party is not satisfied with the work that she has done; otherwise, they would not have fielded a candidate,'' she said.
Turner, for her part, doesn't take Duncan's candidacy personally, and said Starnes knows she has done a good job. ``It was strictly party,'' she said.
In 1990, Turner defeated David Worrell - who has since been re-elected to City Council - to succeed Inez Pedigo, who retired. Turner had been Pedigo's deputy for 13 years. A Wythe County native and mother of two grown daughters, she got her commissioner-of-the-revenue certification from the University of Virginia in 1992.
Three unopposed incumbents also will be on the Radford ballot.
Randal Duncan, a Republican and no relation to Lynn Duncan, seeks re-election as commonwealth's attorney; Martin R. ``Jigger'' Roberts, a Democrat, wants another term as treasurer; and Bobby Farmer, also a Democrat, wants to continue as sheriff.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB