ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, March 19, 1996 TAG: 9603190083
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DAN CASEY STAFF WRITER
If you thought controversy over Roanoke's system of elections died one year ago with a vote against holding a referendum on a modified ward system, think again.
City Council on Monday reopened that can of worms and added one more - the question of whether council elections should be nonpartisan in the future.
Council scheduled a pair of hearings, one on each issue, to solicit public comment.
A hearing on whether Roanoke should scrap at-large elections in favor of a modified ward system was set for the night of April 22, although the place is uncertain.
Council scheduled a hearing on nonpartisan elections for May 13.
Neither hearing would result in action that would change the May 7 city elections, in which five of seven council seats are up for grabs. Either or both changes could come only after action by the General Assembly, which controls the rules for city elections.
But if the past is any indication, both issues could generate heated discussion. And the answers voters hear could have an impact on May's election.
Both matters arose during Monday's afternoon meeting with a report from City Attorney Wilburn Dibling on nonpartisan elections. It was requested Jan. 16 by Councilman Mac McCadden, a Republican who has since said he won't seek another term.
McCadden requested a public hearing on the question. Vice Mayor William White said he'd like to have one on the possibility of the modified ward system as well.
Council last dealt with that in March 1995, when it voted 5-2 against holding a referendum on modified wards. That vote left dozens of ward advocates grumbling that council members - a majority of whom had backed a referendum during council campaigns - had reneged on their promises.
``Not one week goes by that I don't hear something from citizens on this issue,'' said White, who voted against a referendum last year. ``There's a great deal of public sentiment on this issue. We need closure.''
In particular, the issue could affect the race for mayor. Many black residents, many of whom have voiced the strongest sentiments for modified wards, accused the mayor of going back on his promise to work for a referendum by voting against one last March.
Mayor David Bowers on Monday said he didn't detect public sentiment for a change last year, and he hinted he might switch his vote once again if there is strong support at April's hearing for a referendum.
Republican mayoral challenger J. Patrick ``Pat'' Green has come out in favor of a referendum to settle the matter.
Linda Wyatt, the only other council member seeking re-election in May, has been a consistent supporter of a referendum. She's the person who pushed it to council's agenda a year ago.
The issue of nonpartisan elections has had a lower political profile. It first surfaced in January as council was trying to settle on a replacement for former Vice Mayor John Edwards, who resigned to take a seat in the state Senate. Council split along partisan lines on that issue for months.
``Sometimes, we, meaning local officials, feel as if we get pressure from political parties in regard to how we are to vote on certain issues,'' McCadden said when bringing the issue up in January. ``That should not be the case in local government. Local government ... should be delivery of goods and services to its people.''
Some other council members on Monday said they doubted whether the public really wants nonpartisan elections. McCadden's motion for a hearing passed 4-3, with Bowers siding with the Republicans.
In other action Monday, council:
* Unanimously approved allowing racing promoter Danny Taylor to stage 13 auto races at Victory Stadium this spring and summer. The races would begin April 20 and conclude Sept. 21. They would field ``Legend'' series stock cars, which are smaller and quieter than full-size racing cars.
* Agreed, in executive session, to continue negotiations with Cox Communications over taxes the city claims the cable television franchise holder owes to Roanoke.
LENGTH: Medium: 81 linesby CNB