Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 21, 1994 TAG: 9404210161
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: E-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: NANCY BELL STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
"It has become more and more important for me to make sure my children are able to live in the same kind of town I've lived in," Obenchain said.
"I love the town. I care about this place."
The people of the town of Vinton know Billy Obenchain as a man who wears many hats: a career firefighter's, that of a basketball booster, a floral shop manager's, a Mason's and even that of Santa Claus. At Christmas each year, Obenchain collects and delivers toys and clothing for Vinton's needy.
The youngest of five candidates for Town Council - and the only candidate with school-aged children - Obenchain said he hopes to strengthen opportunities for Vinton's young people if elected to council.
While he acknowledges Vinton's elderly population is its largest, he feels that strengthening the town's commitment to youth will encourage young people to stay in Vinton and maintain a much-needed tax base for the town's services.
"The town turned its recreation department over to [Roanoke] county, but I strongly feel the service the county has given us in this area has been lacking."
Obenchain said Town Council needs to give more attention to recreational programs for its young people and more support to youth sports.
"There simply are not enough activities for the young people of this town. We need to take care of them better," he said. "Other localities in the valley take much better care of their youth."
While serving the youth perspective well, Obenchain said it is his goal to represent all citizens of Vinton fairly and equally.
He is in favor of continuing to offer tax breaks to citizens over age 65.
"To do this, we've got to keep our young people here, in the town. And to do that, we've got to take care of them."
Obenchain also is eager to run now because of the gravity of a number of issues facing the town.
Annexation of a portion of Roanoke County into Vinton has town and county residents talking, he said.
Like each of the other candidates, Obenchain said he needs more information about annexation before forming an opinion.
"Ideally, I'd like Vinton to maintain the small-town atmosphere that makes it such a desirable place to live. But, Vinton also needs to find ways to increase its tax base," he said.
"If east county citizens can be better served, not at the expense of town residents, and we could work out a plan that could make us all happy, then I'm in favor of it." But Obenchain said he would make no official stance on annexation until reading and understanding a consultant's report, which has not been released.
Obenchain said he supports the town's efforts to acquire grant money for the Midway community, which floods frequently and has outdated water and sewer systems.
"It will take an astonishing amount of money to take care of the problems in Midway. I am for doing whatever needs to be done to help those people."
If elected, Obenchain said his first priority would be "looking at the revenues of the town and seeking ways to better manage the money that we have."
Obenchain said he would like to invite residents to attend council meetings by sending out personalized invitations and by offering receptions after the meetings.
"It would take two years to make sure every citizen was invited to at least one Town Council meeting, but it would ensure that each citizen has the opportunity to talk to council members personally," Obenchain said.
Obenchain's philosophy is that "as many people as possible should get involved in town government, instead of only three to four people per meeting." He would like to see more citizens serving on committees.
"I am brimming with ideas - small, simple things that don't cost a lot of money - for helping this town run more smoothly by involving its citizens."
To the voters, Obenchain says: "Vinton needs a plan for prosperity for the next 10 to 20 years. I am willing to work as long as it takes to get the job done. And I think I have a different way of looking at things, which will help."\ \ NAME: William Eustace "Billy" Obenchain Jr.\ \ AGE: 42.\ \ EDUCATION: Graduate of William Byrd High School. Commercial art and fire science at Virginia Western Community College.\ \ PROFESSION: Captain, Roanoke Fire Department. Manager of Obenchain's, a family-owned and operated floral shop in downtown Vinton.\ \ FAMILY: Married to Karen Obenchain. Two children: Jeremy 16, and Zak, 12.\ \ CIVIC ACTIVITIES: Vinton Baptist Church, life member of the Vinton Volunteer Fire Department, member of the Vinton Masonic Lodge, member of the William Byrd High School Basketball Booster Club, member of the International Association of Firefighters, member of the Downtown Merchants Association.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB