Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, April 26, 1994 TAG: 9404260132
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By MIKE HUDSON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Barbara Duerk believes this spring's City Council elections are about change.
``Sometimes,'' she says, ``we just need a new face on City Council to change the direction.''
The Republican candidate for a four-year seat says running for council ``is not something I wanted to do.''
But she says she decided to run because many of the issues that are important to her - and, she believes, to most Roanokers - have not been getting the attention they deserve.
She believes Roanoke needs to put more emphasis on supporting its neighborhoods and making itself an environmentally friendly city. Keeping a high quality of life will do more toward economic development than anything else, Duerk says.
``We need to have the best school system. That's No.1 for economic development,'' she says.
Overall, Duerk says, ``Our growth needs to come from within. We shouldn't be expecting this wonderful company to come in and save us.''
She says the city should support small and middle-sized businesses and promote greater regional cooperation among local governments.
Duerk has criticized plans for a Wal-Mart superstore near Valley View Mall. She says the complex would create more traffic congestion and take business away from small neighborhood merchants.
She said this project contradicts the city's comprehensive plan, which emphasizes neighborhoods. Such plans should be used ``and not disregarded for the sake of economic development.''
``You cannot implement change from the top; it has to be grass-roots,'' Duerk says. ``I'd prefer that Roanoke would stick by its comprehensive plan and be a city of neighborhoods.''
Duerk believes the city should do more to take advantage of its recreational assets. For example, she'd like to see a ``rails to trails'' conversion that turns old railroad corridors into hiking and biking trails.
On other issues, Duerk:
Does not favor elected school boards but supports putting the idea to a referendum so the voters can decide.
Believes the city needs to do something about pollution in the Roanoke River and keep pushing forward with flood control. ``You can only stand still so long. And then we need to take action. ... When are we going to take a good look at the river as a community asset?''
Supports the Explore project, an environmental park along the Blue Ridge Parkway. ``I think it's an asset to the community. I'd rather have more of that in Virginia than a lot of Disneys.''
Says the community needs to do more to head off teen pregnancy instead of simply reacting to the problem after the fact. For example, she says, the city might consider extending school hours as a way of offering more support and guidance to teen-agers.
Says the community must get tougher on crime. ``We need to quit fostering stealing as a community norm.''
Says the city needs to do something about its downtown parking problems. ``Parking should not be a cat-and-mouse game with the police. Police have more important things to do.''
She says the city should encourage car pooling, biking or walking to work. Also, she adds, it could provide vouchers for municipal employees to ride the bus or park.
Is against the proposed ward system of council elections. Instead, she prefers a ``slot'' system in which every candidate runs citywide, but goes one-on-one with a specific opponent for a specific slot.
Keywords:
POLITICS PROFILE
Memo: ***CORRECTION***