ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, April 11, 1996 TAG: 9604110031
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG
SOURCE: KENNETH SINGLETARY STAFF WRITER
The eight candidates for Town Council at the election season's first forum showed something important about this year's race: there are some real issues out there.
Speaking at Tuesday's forum, sponsored by the Montgomery County League of Women Voters, the candidates touched on many issues, including communication between the town and its residents, the proposed recreation center in the old Lowe's building on North Franklin Street, the town's subdivision code, the sign ordinance, empty buildings, traffic and road construction, a ward system, public transportation, development guidelines and local government cooperation.
But fiscal and budget issues were largely unheard of during the discussion. The town's current budget is about $10 million, and Christiansburg has not seen a tax increase since the early 1970s.
Many of the ideas the candidates suggested, though, will not be free.
Running for the council are incumbents Wayne Booth, who has served for more than eight years, and Scott Weaver, who has served for 28. Challenging them for a four-year seat on council are Bob Abraham, Dick Ballengee, Rocco Capozzi, Bob Hockett, Jay Newman and Paul Poff. The town has not seen this many candidates for council in recent memory.
Truman Daniel's retirement means at least one new person is guaranteed to be on council in August. Three of six seats are to be decided in the May 7 election. All of the candidates are running as independents, as Virginia law requires in town elections.
With the campaign well under way, some of the candidates, both incumbent and challenger, are stressing their experience and accomplishments, while some of the challengers are saying the town needs fresh voices on council. And each person is taking pains to define himself as an advocate for a particular issue or idea, ranging from Abraham's notion of starting a town newsletter to Weaver's goal of continuing to provide "the best-working services of any town in the state."
Capozzi suggested the field boils down to four candidates who represent the status quo and four who represent change.
Perhaps the two issues mentioned most Tuesday were communication between the town and residents, and the proposed recreation center. As Ballengee said, "I've heard more about recreation than any other issue in the last couple of months."
The recreation program became a hot topic a year ago when the town, in a surprise move, bought the vacated Lowe's building for $1.4 million with the intent of turning it into a recreation center instead of constructing a new structure. The Lowe's plan was dealt a blow when January's historic snow storm caved in the building's roof. The town plans to rebuild it.
"I read about the Lowe's building in the newspaper. That's the first I knew about it," said Abraham, 67, the former owner of Christiansburg Printing.
The controversies about the recreation center and program prompted Hockett, 48, to enter the race. A mechanical engineer, Hockett was a member of the town's recreation advisory committee.
Since becoming a candidate Hockett has done his homework and can talk about how Christiansburg has only four baseball fields for 700 youth-league players. Christiansburg reminds Hockett of Salem, his home town, of several years ago. Since then, he said, Salem has embarked on a building campaign that has resulted in more ball fields and parks, a pedestrian friendly downtown and more civic pride.
"We need to get off the dime and get these things done," he said.
Poff, 54, a lifetime resident of Christiansburg and post office employee, said a revitalized recreation program would provide more opportunities for the town's young people.
"I would like to see not a half-hearted effort but a [recreation] department that will serve all people."
Poff also wants a new building for the town's Police Department and a downtown that features boutiques, galleries, theaters and more shops.
Communication, along with the recreation center, were reasons that Newman, 38, a pharmacist, decided to run.
"Input has seriously been lacking in town," he said.
"If I am elected, I will be your instrument," Newman said, saying that elected officials should be responsive to residents.
Other candidates addressed the communication issue, with Abraham saying "I feel that our councilmen have not communicated with their constituents" and Ballengee saying he will be "a good listener." Capozzi said, "I want to inform citizens of what is being considered before it happens, not afterward."
Ballengee, 59, has held a variety of positions with the Montgomery County school system. He is now semiretired, giving him time to serve on the council.
A resident of Christiansburg for 32 years and of the county for almost all his life, Ballengee stressed fiscal conservatism with an eye toward progress.
"This community has been good to me ... I feel it's time to put something back. I know the community, and I feel by serving I can help the community," he said.
Capozzi, 59, runs the Evergreen Bed and Breakfast Inn with his wife, who ran for mayor two years ago in a losing write-in campaign. His college-age son ran for council and lost in 1994.
"There comes a time when you have to have new faces on council. There comes a time when a number of years on council are too many," Capozzi said.
Booth, 55, a retired county school administrator, has proposed that the town think about hiring an economic development and public relations officer. He said Christiansburg has accomplished many things in recent years, including the acquisition of the Christiansburg Industrial Park, the boundary adjustment that put the county's Falling Branch Industrial Park within the town limits in exchange for utility services, the construction of a new rescue squad building, and the formation of the visual enhancement committee.
"I'm excited about the future of Christiansburg," he said. "I think I have experience and that I have proven I know how to get things done."
He promised to listen to residents, though he cautioned that he might not agree with all of them.
Weaver, 71, is a retired controller and treasurer for Radford University. He, too, extolled the town's accomplishments.
He said his priority will be to continue to provide and maintain basic facilities and services, adding that "recreation has been put on a second burner, but now it's becoming a problem."
The candidates will appear at another forum 7:30 p.m. Monday at Park United Methodist Church, sponsored by residents of Park Street. About 60 people, many of whom were high school government class students, attended Tuesday's forum.
LENGTH: Long : 118 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshots) Abraham, Ballengee, Booth, Capozzi, Hockett,by CNBNewman, Poff, Weaver. KEYWORDS: POLITICS CITY COUNCIL