Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, January 24, 1994 TAG: 9401240252
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Whether that will give the former councilman an advantage in the March 1 primary remains to be seen.
But the other five candidates are quickly trying to learn the winning strategy in the battle for the party's nomination for four council seats.
And that has focused attention on the similarities and differences between a primary and a general election.
Trout was a candidate in the city's last Democratic primary 26 years ago when he first ran for council. He led the voting in the primary and in the general election that year and became vice mayor.
City politics have changed since 1968, but the nature of a primary remains essentially the same.
Most candidates will be appealing mainly to a select audience: Democratic activists and party members who want a voice in choosing the party's nominees.
"The bottom line is that you are appealing to Democratic regulars and other independent-minded voters," said Trout, who is trying to make a political comeback. He served on council for 16 years.
"The campaigns will be a little more retail and a little less wholesale. You might lick stamps rather than send bulk mail," said one political strategist, explaining that campaign brochures and letters probably will be sent only to known or probable Democrats, not all voters.
Candidates will rely more on direct contact with voters and less on newspaper, radio and television advertisements, said the strategist, who did not want to be identified. "You might see more door-to-door campaigning, with the candidates taking their message directly to voters. They will target Democratic voters who are likely to go to the polls."
Linda Wyatt, a teacher making her first try at elected office, said she will concentrate on winning the support of Democrats without encouraging Republicans to participate in the primary.
Not everyone agrees with this strategy, however.
Nelson Harris, a School Board member who also is making his first try for elected office, said he is seeking support from anyone who is a registered voter.
"Some folks think you have to be a card-carrying Democrat to go to the polls, but that is not true," Harris said.
There is nothing to prevent Republicans from voting in the primary because voters do not register by party in Virginia.
In theory, Republicans could cross over and vote in the primary to try to help elect the weakest Democratic candidates.
But most Democratic leaders and candidates do not expect that to occur.
"I don't see that happening. With candidates running for four seats, I don't think there is enough time for [the Republicans] to organize that kind of effort," said Al Wilson, chairman of the city Democratic Committee.
William Fralin, chairman of the city Republican Committee, said he knows of no organized effort to get Republicans to vote in the Democratic primary. Individual GOP members might vote, he said, but party leaders are not advocating it.
Wyatt said she would welcome the support of Republicans who are willing to back the Democratic nominees. "But they should not vote in the primary unless they are going to become good Democrats," she said.
There are differing views on the projected turnout. Some party officials predict that only 10 percent to 15 percent of the city's 41,032 registered voters will go to the polls.
"It's hard to tell. People are not used to voting in March and you don't know what might happen," Councilman John Edwards said.
But Wilson believes the turnout will be larger than some predictions.
"Because of the high public interest in Democratic politics as has been evident in several mass meetings in the past two years, I think the turnout is going to surprise some people," Wilson said.
He's not worried that Republicans will vote in the primary.
"It doesn't bother me that much. I think any crossover might benefit the Democrats. It will help focus attention on the primary and Democrats," Wilson said.
Roanoke is the only locality in Virginia that will hold a primary this year to choose candidates for city council. Taxpayers will pay the estimated $17,000 cost for the election.
Some Democratic leaders favored a primary in the hope that it would prevent the dissension and hard feelings that have occurred at recent mass meetings to select party nominees.
Party leaders and candidates do not expect negative attacks or a bitter campaign during the primary, which could weaken the nominees for the May 3 election.
"I don't think it would do the Democrats any good to criticize each other," Councilman William White said. "We've got to work together after the election."
"I would be shocked if there were negative attacks. I don't think you've got the chemistry for that to happen," Trout said.
If candidates are inclined to run negative campaigns, Wilson said, they should recall that attacks on Mayor David Bowers and several other Democrats in recent years have backfired.
There are differing views on the cost of a primary campaign.
Some candidates have complained that it will be difficult to finance back-to-back campaigns. It is a concern for White, who said he might not spend as much on the primary as he would like. "I don't have the money or time to run two campaigns," he said.
Trout expects to spend $4,000 to $6,000 on his primary campaign. This would be substantially less than budgets of $10,000 to $12,000 for some recent council campaigns.
Harris and Wyatt, the newcomers, said they plan to do a lot of personal and door-to-door campaigning to help compensate for their lack of name recognition.
The candidates are expected to make fewer joint public appearances than during a regular campaign. Few civic and neighborhood groups are likely to sponsor forums just for Democratic hopefuls.
Still, Wilson believes the candidates will benefit from the exposure and publicity during the primary - and reduce the need for a big campaign budget for the May 3 election.
Wilson, who said he will not take sides in the primary battle, expects the winners will come out of the election with momentum and a jump on their Republican opponents.
At this point, there are no tickets or coalitions, either formal or informal, among the candidates. But that could happen before the campaign is over.
Said Harris: "As it stands now, everyone is a solo act. But I can't say whether that might change."
\ Roanoke Primary Election
There will be two contests on the ballot - one for a two-year term and the other for three four-year terms.
The candidates for the two-year term are: James Harvey, a City Council member for 12 years who is seeking his fourth term.
Linda Wyatt, a teacher and former president of the Roanoke Education Association who is making her first try for elected office.
\ The candidates for the three four-year terms are:
John Edwards, a lawyer who was appointed this past fall to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of former Vice Mayor Beverly Fitzpatrick Jr.
Nelson Harris, a School Board member who is making his first try for elected office.
James Trout, a former council member who is trying to make a political comeback.
William White, a council member and former School Board member who is seeking his second term.
Keywords:
POLITICS
Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.