Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 5, 1994 TAG: 9405050160
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By JAN VERTEFEUILLE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
How significant that fact is depends on whom you talk to.
"I think the worst thing that could happen to Salem council is becoming a partisan council," said Sonny Tarpley, a 20-year incumbent who came in second to Lautenschlager and retained his seat.
Vice Mayor Mac Green, who came onto council the same year Tarpley did, finished third in the three-way race for two seats.
Since the early 1970s, when there were contentious races, council candidates have run as independents regardless of their party affiliation. Some people would like it to stay that way.
Had Lautenschlager run as an independent, Tarpley said, "In my opinion, he may have done better." Lautenschlager had a 122-vote lead over Tarpley.
William Hill, a Roanoke College political science professor who has served as Republican Committee chairman in Salem and follows local politics, said Lautenschlager probably received more help from the Republican Party organization than from the label.
"It's the machine," he said.
The Republicans provided Lautenschlager a campaign manager, a treasurer and someone to design his ads and help with the process of filing and running a campaign. Lautenschlager also has long been active on Salem rescue squads and was director of the city's Emergency Medical Services organization, which has a committed corps of volunteers who supported him.
Partisan politics thrives where there are a lot of divisive issues, Hill said, and parties can step in and unify the opposing sides. Salem enjoys an "unusual consensus," he said, and doesn't have enough problems or social and economic divisions to foster that kind of partisanship.
Bill Bradley, chairman of Salem's Republican Committee, said he is amused by predictions of partisan politics ripping apart City Council.
"This isn't any big power base," he said of his 47-member Republican Committee.
Bradley said Lautenschlager asked the Republicans to endorse him, and after interviewing him, they agreed. He said the party would have endorsed people in earlier elections if members thought they had a good candidate.
"We haven't not been running people because Salem's some kind of nirvana with no party politics," he said.
Tarpley predicts the Republicans "will sure be pushing hard from here on out for two more seats so they can control council."
Bradley insists the Republicans have no firm plans to run anyone in 1996 or to try to seize control of council.
"Not at this point. I really don't care [about taking over council]," he said. "I guess if I was interested in running Salem, I might, but I'm not. ... There may not be a good Republican candidate willing to run in two years."
Bradley said Lautenschlager made no promises to the party about how he would vote on council. Democratic Committee Chairwoman Katherin Elam said Salem Democrats would discuss the possibility of endorsing candidates in 1996 at their next meeting this summer. She said the time may be right for even more change in Salem.
While 38-year-old Lautenschlager successfully campaigned on a theme of "change," voters changed from one white male to a younger one on the all-male council. Women and minorities are "past due" for representation, Elam said.
"Salem's going to have to realize ... the makeup of the city and council should better reflect the citizens who live in Salem."
Hill agreed with that assessment and sees this as a transition election, as potential candidates "begin to negotiate for the post-Taliaferro era."
Mayor Jim Taliaferro's term is up in two years, and Hill said rumor has it that he won't run again. Taliaferro did not immediately return phone calls Wednesday seeking comment.
Taliaferro is a strong mayor who does his homework on the issues and is relied on by other councilmen for direction, Hill said.
"He's been a remarkably effective leader. I think there will be a period of readjustment in the next three or four years. ... Maybe someone [else on council] will come to the forefront."
Or maybe someone new - Democrat or Republican - will come forward. But the professor predicts party affiliation won't have a profound effect on City Council.
"As the old adage goes," Hill said, "there's no Republican or Democratic way to pave a road or shovel snow or collect the garbage."
by CNB