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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 4, 1994                   TAG: 9405040140
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A8   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: RON BROWN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

BEDFORD RE-ELECTS 2 INCUMBENTS

Current council members Larry Brookshier and Payton Otey easily outdistanced the field in winning new four-year terms.

Brookshier was first elected to council eight years ago. He will be serving his third term.

Otey was appointed to council six years ago and elected to a full term four years ago.

Joining the two incumbents is Linda Kochendarfer, who was executive director of Bedford Main Street Inc. from 1989 to 1992. She will assume the seat held by James Vest, who did not seek re-election.

The organization she directed helped plan a restoration of the downtown business district. It was responsible for bringing in about two dozen new businesses during her tenure, she said.

Kochendarfer said Tuesday night that long-range planning for the city will be among her priorities.

Bedford is seeking a state grant for planning for education, governmental services and economic development, she said.

Among the more immediate needs is development of a community center and a gymnasium for the city's middle school, she said.

Brookshier said he thinks that the building that housed the city's grade school could be renovated to provide additional classroom space and could be updated to provide the middle school with a gym. "That's the one thing I'd like to see accomplished in the next four years."

He is less optimistic about consolidation between the city and Bedford County.

"At this time, I don't think it is something that would benefit the city," he said.

Otey could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.

Keywords:
ELECTION