
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, April 25, 1995                   TAG: 9504250112
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: RON BROWN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

BOTETOURT COUNTY RACES TAKE SHAPE

Steve Wampler is depending on his record to propel him into a second term as Botetourt County commissioner of revenue.

Paul Graybill is hoping to be the point man in a Republican sweep in November.

Wampler, a Democrat, announced Monday he'll seek re-election.

And Graybill, the county's Republican Party chairman, announced Monday that he will try to unseat incumbent Supervisor Bill Loope, a Democrat, in the Valley District.

Graybill will run on a platform depicting himself as a fiscal conservative who supports industrial development. He said Monday that the Democratic-controlled board "drug its feet" on building Cloverdale Middle School, causing the project cost to escalate several million dollars.

If fellow Republican Bonnie Mayo retains her Fincastle District seat this November, Republicans would have a majority on the Board of Supervisors.

Mayo is expected to announce her bid for re-election next week, said Bud Brumitt, who has been recruiting Republican candidates for local races.

Jay Etzler, a Republican who manages a family farm in the county, is expected to challenge Wampler.

Wampler said Monday that he has made improvements in his four years in office, including taking over responsibility for assessing the bulk of the county's building permits, eliminating the need for employing outside assessors.

He also had a hand in computerizing the county's personal property and real estate tax files.

Keywords:
POLITICS

by CNB