Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 20, 1995 TAG: 9504280004
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: BRIAN KELLEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Gorman will seek the Democratic nomination June 3 to run for re-election this fall.
So far, Gorman's District G seat is Montgomery's only contested Board of Supervisors race. Political newcomer Curtis Cox, a machinist and self-described "Joe Blue-Collar," is seeking the Republican nomination.
Gorman has created a niche for himself on the board by specializing in trash and recycling issues, and he has been closely involved with plans to expand the Blacksburg branch library.
The 65-year-old retired Radford Army Ammunition Plant executive cited funding for education, long-range planning for growth, and protecting water quality and the environment as priorities. He also wants to continue working for economic development and cooperation with other governments in the region.
Speaking before a small group of supporters at Bogen's Restaurant, Gorman conceded he hadn't made as much progress on some goals as he had hoped.
"I find that the political train moves very slowly," Gorman said. He defeated Republican Keith Furr with 60 percent of the vote in 1991, taking the seat back into the Democratic fold after first-term Supervisor George Gray did not seek re-election.
Gorman occasionally finds himself in the minority on major land-use and financial decisions, often with fellow Supervisor Jim Moore of Blacksburg. It was that way on the failed open-space plan vote in late 1993, and earlier this month on the decision to keep the effective real-estate tax rate the same, rather than raising it to increase school spending.
"I would hope we could be more aggressive in accomplishing some of these goals," he said.
Though District G is more urban and compact than the county's six other election districts, Gorman has made a point of focusing on planning for growth in the rural areas beyond the fringes of Blacksburg and Christiansburg. "Up until now, everything we've done has been crisis management," he said. In recent months, though, a consensus among board members has been developing to address rural, high-density suburban development. Gorman said he favors keeping such growth away from areas where public water and sewer systems are not feasible.
Gorman is a native of Lynchburg who has lived in Blacksburg for more than 40 years. He graduated from Virginia Tech and worked for Hercules Aerospace Co. at the ammunition plant for four decades, retiring as manager of international and development programs. He served on the Blacksburg Town Council from 1966-74, including six years as vice mayor. Gorman and his wife, Jeanette, live on Hearthstone Drive in Blacksburg.
District G is bordered by Harding Avenue to the southeast, North Main Street and Toms Creek Road to the southwest, the U.S. 460 bypass to the northwest and Happy Hollow and Bishop roads to the northeast.
Two other board incumbents, Ira Long of District E and Nick Rush of District B, are expected to announce their plans soon. Chairman Larry Linkous of District F is leaving the board to run for the House of Delegates. No one has announced for his seat.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB