Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, November 3, 1994 TAG: 9411030090
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RON BROWN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FINCASTLE LENGTH: Medium
When Botetourt County voters go to the polls next week, they may be voting for more than a bond referendum and a supervisor for the Fincastle district.
Republicans see it as an opportunity to redirect the political will of the county.
Just one year ago, John Shiflett became the first Republican in at least half a century to win the Buchanan supervisor's seat.
Bonnie Barger Mayo, who is challenging Democratic incumbent Ben H. Griffith for the Fincastle seat, wants to join Shiflett on the five-member board.
She stresses her native ties and conservative philosophy. She portrays the $19.7 million bond referendum as Botetourt's version of Washington pork.
In addition to $13.6 million to provide two new middle schools, the bond referendum contains $6.1 million for such projects as a new branch library, a new park, a business park and development of the county landfill and water systems. Sites for the nonschool projects have not been announced.
County officials are banking on existing cash reserves and future economic growth - not new taxes - to pay off the bond. Those assumptions have been supported by two independent assessments of the county's finances.
Mayo is not impressed.
"I'm against it," she said.
The fuel for her fire is a basic mistrust that some residents in the rural northern part of the county have for the current Board of Supervisors, which they believe is too concerned with economic development in the rapidly growing southern end of the county to understand their needs.
Mayo paints Griffith as a political insider who is too tied to the conventional political wisdom in this Democrat-controlled county.
The Republican is hoping to ride this year's political hot-button issues - incumbency, government on credit, economic development - to victory.
Griffith understands that he has a difficult task in front of him. He has been a strong advocate of the bond referendum and has strong ties to many Democratic officeholders in the county.
"It seems that all my friends are Democrats," Griffith said. "Most times my friends were on the ballot as Democrats."
Mayo counters the established Democratic power by attaching herself to the potential coattails of Oliver North, the conservative former Marine who is challenging Democrat Sen. Charles Robb for his U.S. Senate seat.
Griffith said North's opposition to gun control is playing well in the largely rural district, where many hunters feel threatened by the Clinton administration's crackdown on assault-style weapons.
"By the signs in the yards, I think people are leaning that way," Griffith said.
He hopes to counter the pro-North sentiment with the good will he has built up during 35 years in the county school system, where he served as an industrial-arts teacher and assistant superintendent.
"People know that I'm an avid hunter, too," Griffith said. "I hope that the thinking people, whether they are for the bond referendum or not, think that I am the best candidate."
Griffith was appointed to the Board of Supervisors in March, following the retirement of longtime Fincastle Supervisor G.C. Thompson.
If the Griffith candidacy falters next week, Republican strategists already are planning a strong push next year against other Democratic officeholders.
Joel Branscom and Tom Rowe, both of whom have served as assistant commonwealth's attorneys in Roanoke, have been contacted about serving as Republican challengers to Democratic incumbent Rob Hagan for Botetourt's commonwealth's attorney post in 1995.
Hagan said he doesn't view the post of commonwealth's attorney as a political job.
"The voters have to hire the best lawyer they can to prosecute crimes," Hagan said. "If there is a lawyer who thinks he can convince the voters he is the best for the job, he is welcome to try."
State Sen. Malfourd "Bo" Trumbo, R-Fincastle, says Republicans may be ready to pick up that challenge.
"I think Republicans are looking to field qualified candidates for as many offices as possible," said Trumbo, who also stands for re-election in 1995. "I think it is fair to say that Republicans are becoming more involved in local politics."
If Republicans create a following in the county's rural northern end to match the one they're developing in the suburban south, it could signal a countywide Republican voter base for at-large races. The sheriff, commissioner of revenue, treasurer and commonwealth's attorney all will be up for re-election in 1995.
Republican challenger Bud Brummitt lost the race but won five of six southern Botetourt precincts when he took on longtime Del. Richard Cranwell, D-Roanoke County, last year. Republican Gov. George Allen swept the county.
Trumbo says these Republican gains could apply to local elections as well, and a Mayo victory would be a crucial step.
"I think voters are looking at the candidates instead of the party," he said.
Keywords:
POLITICS
Memo: ***CORRECTION***