Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, February 4, 1995 TAG: 9502060020
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: BRIAN KELLEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Trooper Steve Fijalkowski and Helen St. Clair told Montgomery Republicans last week they will seek the nomination this spring.
St. Clair has scheduled a formal announcement for later this month. Fijalkowski, 40, of Shawsville, outlined his background and goals on Thursday.
The announcements mean the race will be a competitive one this fall. Longtime Commissioner Robertine Jordan, a fixture in Democratic politics for more than four decades, announced last month she will retire at the end of the year. Her chief deputy, Nancy Miller, is seeking the Democratic nomination to succeed her.
Fijalkowski is a native of Enfield, Conn., who came to the New River Valley 12 years ago in his first assignment with the state police. He is stationed at the Salem office and patrols Interstate 81 and other roads.
Fijalkowski has served for 22 years in the Army, including three years of active duty in the 1970s and service in the National Guard and Army Reserve since. He's currently a sergeant first class with the 80th Reserve Division in Dublin.
"The leadership experience that I gained from the Army and state police, I believe that is what is needed in the commissioner's office," he said. "As an elected official, leadership is the most important skill."
Fijalkowski said he was not considering any major changes to the commissioner's office itself, which is responsible for collecting state income tax returns and county personal property assessments and maintaining real estate records, among other duties.
"I do plan to make the office as open to the public, fair, unbiased, [and] as courteous as possible," he said.
Fijalkowski and his wife, Lynn, have three daughters, including two who attend school in Shawsville.
This is his first public foray into local politics, though Fijalkowski said he contemplated a challenge to Supervisor Joe Stewart in 1993. He decided against it, however, when the state police leadership said it would be a conflict of interest. Troopers cannot run for boards of supervisors, commonwealth's attorney or sheriff.
But Fijalkowski said he has received clearance to seek the commissioner of revenue office.
The Montgomery Board of Supervisors last week cleared the way for St. Clair to run. It changed a policy to allow a county employee such as St. Clair to seek the commissioner's job or any other constitutional office without giving up her job.
by CNB