Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 4, 1994                   TAG: 9405040119
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JAN VERTEFEUILLE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

IN SALEM, IT'S FINALLY THE YEAR OF CHANGE

Sonny Tarpley retained his seat, while Mac Green lost his. Both Tarpley and Green have been on the council since 1974, which was the last year an incumbent was ousted by voters.

"I think voters are pleased with the level of service, but ... there are some problems with the perception of openness and responsiveness," said Lautenschlager, president of Western Virginia Emergency Medical Services Council.

At 38, he will be the youngest member of council.

The main issue in the race was a vaguely defined desire for "change," which even Lautenschlager was hard-pressed to detail. He said he will challenge citizens to get involved, seek to publicize council agendas and minutes and work to create a local government cable TV channel.

"I'm a Salemite; I have tremendous respect for council," he said. "There was no defining issue."

Thirty-two percent of Salem voters turned out, up considerably from the 7 percent who showed up in 1990 for Tarpley and Green's last election, when they had no opposition.

Tarpley - who, like Lautenschlager, edged out an incumbent 20 years ago to win his seat - said he wasn't surprised by the challenger's 122-vote lead.

"Everywhere I went, people said, 'Sonny, I like you, but you've been on 20 years,'" Tarpley said. "I honestly feel if [the Republicans] had run another candidate, I would have been defeated. I think the voters are in the mood for change. It doesn't matter how good a job I do, they're in the mood for change."

Lautenschlager ran as a Republican in a city that historically has supported independent candidates; everyone now on council ran as an independent. Tarpley and others say they hope council doesn't become partisan.

Lautenschlager said he chose to run as a Republican because the local committee offered the organization and volunteers to support the campaign.

"It doesn't indicate I'm going to vote on any party line," Lautenschlager said. He also said he has set a term limit for himself of 12 years, which he thinks is "enough opportunity to establish an agenda."

Mac Green said he has "thoroughly enjoyed" his time on council, but that it was premature to speculate whether he would run again.

"I tried. It's not the end of the world," he said. "I have been very privileged - and I mean that - to serve here for 20 years."

Tarpley said he will work with Lautenschlager to assist his transition to council. "I can assure you I will be very helpful."

Salem has a reputation for being a well-run city, with high-level municipal services and healthy finances. City Council meetings are rarely contentious and votes are usually unanimous.

"We can't figure," Green said the day before the election. "What does he want to change?"

Keywords:
ELECTION