Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 4, 1995 TAG: 9501040108
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JAN VERTEFEUILLE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
This week, he flopped once more, but it was only after careful consideration: He will run for re-election this fall.
The Republican had announced last June that he would not seek to represent the Catawba Magisterial District for a second term, saying his heart wasn't really in it. He said he was announcing early so candidates would have adequate time to campaign in the county's most widely spread district.
"I was just plain burned out," he said Tuesday. "I just couldn't see ahead far enough."
But with his 2-year-old child in day care and a fresh perspective on the job, Kohinke said he wants to serve another term as supervisor.
He's also gotten "away from the business of trying to work 70 and 80 hours a week at this job," he said. "I was putting too much time into it and letting things get to me."
Kohinke, who will be 50 this month, is a retired naval officer.
After serving a four-year term as supervisor, he reasoned, why let those skills go to waste? And he's "highly motivated to serve for another term."
In the next few months, he will put together an organization to run his campaign. He plans to run a "very low-cost campaign. I'm a firm believer in that."
Kohinke has long been the least predictable supervisor, frequently changing his position on issues as discussion went on. He said he used that tactic to try to elicit his constituents' views.
In recent months, however, Kohinke's methods have changed, and he reverses himself less often in mid-debate.
"I have tried very hard not to change my mind on things," he said. "I've only changed one vote. Where I've changed my mind is in debate, discussion. Maybe I let it get too far sometimes. I realize it disturbs people."
As a second-time-around parent, Kohinke has a keen interest in Roanoke County's school system. He dedicated his campaign to his daughter Rose.
Getting a new Cave Spring High School built would be one of his priorities in a second term, he said, as well as building a new gym or field house for Northside High School.
Also on Kohinke's priority list is seeing projects from his first term through to completion, such as the new Glenvar Middle School, scheduled to open in 1997, and various other bond-funded projects.
He also would like to see the high-tech industrial park in his district, Valley TechPark, get its first tenant.
Another first-term Republican on the board, Fuzzy Minnix, also is up for re-election this fall but said he won't announce whether he's running for another 30 to 50 days. Both Minnix and Kohinke expect Democrats to run for their seats. The Republicans hold a 3-2 majority on the Board of Supervisors.
Minnix was elected unanimously Tuesday to be chairman of the board, replacing Lee Eddy; Kohinke again was elected vice chairman. Minnix also served as chairman in 1993.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB