ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, March 7, 1996 TAG: 9603070050
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: TODD JACKSON STAFF WRITER
Boones Mill Mayor Steve Palmer and Town Councilwoman Virginia Carroll - two of the most outspoken opponents of town police officer Lynn Frith - will not seek re-election in May.
Councilman Phil Randolph also is stepping down.
The deadline for candidate applications for the Boones Mill and Rocky Mount town council elections was Tuesday at 7 p.m. The election is May 7.
Seven candidates in Boones Mill did file and will vie for six at-large council seats: incumbents Nelda Cannaday and Douglas Parsons; former council members Marti Boyer and Donna Guthrie; husband and wife Robert and Patricia Hogan; and Earl "Ben" Flora.
Councilman Kevin Goode will be the only mayoral candidate on the ballot.
Palmer said he's not seeking a second term because of recent personal difficulties that are taking up too much of his time. He plans to release a statement later addressing problems he believes continue to plague the town.
Carroll could not be reached for comment.
Since Palmer took over as mayor in 1994, he and Carroll - who already was a council member - have had several publicized run-ins with Frith, the town's well-known police officer.
At several council meetings, Palmer and Carroll attempted to force Frith's termination, but they could never get a voting majority to go along.
In Rocky Mount, two incumbents and one newcomer will run for three at-large seats. There was speculation Tuesday that there might not be a third candidate to fill out the Rocky Mount council ballot, but Elmore Wray turned in his petitions just a few minutes before the deadline.
Wray, 68, is retired from North American Housing in Boones Mill. He's a lifelong resident of Rocky Mount.
Asked why he's decided to delve into politics, Wray laughed and said: "I was getting tired of sitting around watching television all the time."
Vice Mayor Posey Dillon and Councilman Arnold Dillon are running for re-election. The Dillons are not related.
The number of candidates in the Franklin County towns is indicative of the importance each places on its politics.
Boones Mill, with a population of about 240, has eight candidates for seven positions even with three incumbents stepping aside. Rocky Mount, with a population of more than 4,000, has three candidates for three spots.
LENGTH: Short : 50 lines KEYWORDS: POLITICS CITY COUNCIL MAYORby CNB