Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, February 26, 1994 TAG: 9402260138
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
On Friday, Nelson Harris launched the first attack of the primary campaign by blasting former Councilman Jim Trout for benefiting from the city's "2-for-1" pension plan.
The Baptist pastor noted that Trout voted to enact the lucrative retirement benefits in 1989 and has received a $6,500 city pension since leaving council in 1990.
Harris called on Trout to "write a check" reimbursing city taxpayers for extra money he has received under the plan.
Trout declined the offer.
"Maybe he [Harris] has a poll showing he's not in not too good of shape for the election. That seems kind of silly to . . . write a check for services I have performed in the past."
Trout, a retired railroad engineer, noted that he would have to give up his city pension altogether - at least for four years - if he is elected to council.
Harris declined to take aim at other primary candidates who voted to support the pension plan, suggesting that he considers himself in a two-way race for the third slot on the Democratic slate.
Incumbent councilmen William White and John Edwards are considered front-runners for two of the slots.
`1-for-2' campaign manager
Political consultant Danny Frei signed on three of the six primary candidates - two of whom are running in the same race.
Frei said he didn't see a conflict in the fact that he is representing both John Edwards and Nelson Harris.
Frei said the candidates are running their own campaigns and that his role is limited to providing technical assistance with such things as direct mail.
"It's all technical. I don't sit back and say, `You should do this,' " he said.
Frei also noted that voters can vote for three of the four candidates in the regular ballot primary.
"It's not Nelson or John. That's why there is no conflict of interest."
Adopt-A-Politician
Jim Trout has found a way to make sure commuters remember his name.
Last fall, Trout agreed to take responsibility for picking up trash along a stretch of Franklin Road that passes through Old Southwest.
In return, the city installed "Adopt-A-Highway" signs - emblazoned with Trout's name - on King George Avenue and Third Street.
The former city councilman takes credit for encouraging the city to install a tree-lined median strip when it widened a short stretch of Franklin Road a few years ago.
In fact, Trout said he sometimes mows the median strip himself.
His campaign literature features a photograph of Trout standing in front of one of the signs.
When asked if the sign paid political dividends, Trout replied, "It doesn't hurt."
Polls results
Councilman William White said he was surprised by the results of a survey he mailed to 4,433 Roanoke residents who are likely to vote in Tuesday's primary.
Of whose who replied, 61 percent rated the job performance of City Council as excellent or good.
"That showed in my mind that, in general, council is doing a good job," White said.
Roanoke Valley cooperation rated as the third most important issue, behind jobs and crime.
White said he was surprised that so many city residents wanted to cooperate with other governments after Roanoke County voters rejected a consolidated government in 1990.
"I was very surprised that the citizens of Roanoke look at it that highly," he said.
The poll, financed by White's primary campaign, had 496 respondents.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB