Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, January 26, 1995 TAG: 9501260101
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: BRIAN KELLEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
In the past, a personnel rule forbade employees from running for any elected county office.
Supervisor Nick Rush, a Christiansburg Republican, asked for the change after several employees approached him for clarification. The workers were mainly interested in running this fall for commissioner of revenue, Rush said.
Longtime Democratic Commissioner Robertine Jordan is retiring at the end of this year. Her chief deputy, Nancy Miller, is seeking the Democratic nomination. No Republicans have announced, though several are said to be considering a run.
Miller is not affected by the county policy because the state pays her salary. But there are several people in the treasurer's and commissioner's offices who are considered county employees because Montgomery pays them.
The change, approved by a 6-1 vote Monday, means any county worker could run this fall for commissioner, treasurer, sheriff or commonwealth's attorney.
But county bureaucrats and appointees will have to resign to run for the Board of Supervisors. That means people such as Planning Commission Chairman Jim Martin, who has twice sought a board seat, would have to resign to run again. The board approved an exemption, though, to allow its members to seek re-election.
The supervisors left two parts of the rule unchanged. Those sections prohibit any campaigning at work and say county employees cannot be required to contribute to or participate in any campaign.
by CNB