Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 4, 1994 TAG: 9405040155
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER Note: below
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
Graham defeated political newcomer Daniel Corder 970 to 428 in Tuesday's light turnout. Only 1,472 of Pulaski's 4,382 registered voters went to the polls, a showing of 33 percent.
Bettye Steger, who passed out balloons along Main Street accompanied by a clown as she finished up her campaign this week, led the council race with 1,038 votes. She has been recognized at state and local levels for her volunteer work with the town's Neighborhood Crime Watch program.
Vice Mayor W.H. ``Rocky'' Schrader Jr. won re-election with 905 votes, but Donald Crispin's 524 votes were not enough to return him for a second council term.
Edgar Hale, owner of Martin's Pharmacy and Court Square Antiques in downtown Pulaski, and John Stone, manager of the Dublin Comfort Inn as well as others in the motel chain, will fill the other two council seats. One of those seats had belonged to Graham, who chose to run for mayor instead, and the other to Nick Glenn, who did not seek re-election.
The other candidates, all newcomers, were Jacob Blevins, who got 495 votes, Tina Phillips Ferguson (409), John Hager (354) and Lea Kelly (151).
Graham has pushed for more emphasis on water and sewer services - particularly this year, when leaks and other problems in the town's septic system caused Pulaski to use more water than was allowed under its contract with the provider. He has also stressed the need to solve problems with low water pressure.
He said Tuesday night that he would continue to work on improving those services as mayor. A fiscal conservative, he also has questioned whether the town can afford to support such programs as Pulaski Main Street at current levels.
``I was very confident, but I didn't have any real numbers,'' he said of his election. ``I do want to thank the people for their support, and for all the years they've supported me.''
He said he thought the town itself was a winner when it drew so many well-qualified candidates. Many filed close to the deadline, and it appeared earlier that there might be a shortage of candidates.
Corder had stressed his managerial skills, including those acquired during Army service. He still serves in the Army Reserve and works in Roanoke.
Crispin, a retired engineer, won his first term after taking the town to court in an unsuccessful attempt to block development of the Memorial Drive Shopping Mall. He had been a major spokesman for a citizens' group that felt the mall would hurt residential property values.
During his four years, he continued raising issues that often put him at odds with a majority of council members.
Keywords:
ELECTION
by CNB