Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, April 29, 1994 TAG: 9404290113
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By KENNETH SINGLETARY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
"This is my whole deal: I want to find out what the folks who live here think," said Ben "Chip" Capozzi, the 19-year-old challenger.
The current council members, Jack Via and Ann Carter, and Mayor Harold Linkous, all of whom are running for re-election, said citizen input was welcome, but sometimes isn't forthcoming.
"It distresses me greatly when I sit behind this table two Tuesdays a month and see two reporters," said Carter. "I do wish more people would get more involved."
"Christiansburg has been apathetic at times," said Via, 68, a five-term council member who is also chairman of the Planning Commision.
Ray "Eddie" Lester, 55, a two-term council member and Christiansburg accountant who is seeking re-election, did not attend the forum.
But much of the event, which was sponsored by the League of Women Voters and the Coalition for Community, centered on Christiansburg's downtown.
Capozzi bemoaned what he saw as a lack of business downtown.
"I don't see a town that is worthy of being called a county seat," Capozzi said.
Linkous said development near the New River Valley Mall "has caused some businesses to leave downtown, but the fact that those businesses are still located in Christiansburg, we can still derive some satisfaction from that."
"The commercial area in midcounty would have been there whether we had annexed or not," Via said.
Capozzi said the inability of town leaders to find occupants for three downtown buildings that are to be razed "shows a lack of imagination and creativity that perhaps someone youthful can provide."
The incumbents responded that they have tried to find occupants, but the buildings' dilapidated state has made that impossible.
Carter said town leaders "can't make businesses come to this town." They can help "lure" businesses, "but it takes the support of the community people to make these businesses succeed, and this has not happened."
Via at one point asked Capozzi if he would raise taxes to pay for renovations.
"I'm conservative, if anything," Capozzi said. "I understand we need to balance our checkbook."
The officeholders defended the time and money they have spent on infrastructure such as water and sewer service and street maintenance.
"We need a clean, safe, sound place to live and work," said Via, who added that he stands for "sound government, fair treatment, and gentle and gradual progress."
Carter said areas the town has annexed in recent years require basic services.
"You don't get credit for the basics. ... Parents receive no praise for providing food, clothing and shelter for their children," Capozzi said.
Carter said she wants to find a balance between "the appearance of a small town" and growth. "Without [growth] you become stagnant and you die."
Capozzi called himself a "contributor and innovator" and said his concern is "if you folks are being represented."
"I'm out there trying to make a difference," he said. "I see a huge hole in Christiansburg, and I'm trying to fill it."
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB