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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 8, 1995                   TAG: 9511080033
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A9   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: KENNETH SINGLETARY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD                                 LENGTH: Short

VAUGHN'S EXPERIENCE LIKELY DECIDING FACTOR IN 2-1 VICTORY

Zelda S. Vaughn, who has worked in the Radford Circuit Court clerk's office for 20 years, won the clerk's race by a 2-to-1 margin Tuesday. Vaughn had become heir apparent to retiring Clerk J.D. Harman when he nominated her at the local Democratic convention last spring.

Vaughn's competitors, Republican Todd Jones and independent Carter Effler, both graciously conceded that her experience was probably the race's decisive element.

"The voters had a chance to look at everybody," said Effler, 53. "She had the 20 years, and that's what [the voters] deemed to be an important factor in the race."

Vaughn said, "They knew that I knew the job."

Jones, a 30-year-old Radford police detective, said he plans to return to the routine of his job and family. Vaughn's experience "is what everybody kept seeing," he said. "I knew that was going to be an obstacle going into it."

Both Effler and Jones said the race was hard-fought, though clean, making it notable among the contested races in the New River Valley, several of which were marked by negative advertizing.

Jones stressed the need for up-to-date technology and automation in the office. Effler campaigned for improvements to the city's municipal building and new technology. Vaughn, 47, who is chief deputy in the clerk's office, ran on her experience.

Fifty-nine percent of the city's 5,531 registered voters turned out, despite the bad weather.

Keywords:
ELECTION

by CNB