ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, April 30, 1996 TAG: 9604300122
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DUBLIN
Dublin mayor
Benny Keister (unopposed)
Previous service: Eight years as mayor, proposed the attempt to acquire Burlington Industries property. Previously on council two years.
Comments: "I have ideas. I don't get to vote on anything unless [council's tied] 3-3."
Age: 55
Issues: One of his ideas was to seek the Burlington Industries property, since acquired, as an industrial park. That was the biggest but not the only town accomplishment, he said. The town's greatest challenge is to make sure it gets all the services its citizens need at a price they can afford. He notes that the town was in the red, financially, when he first got on council. Council hired Town Manager Gary Elander, who helped turn that around. It found the town had a lot of uncollected revenue and went after it. That helped turn the town around financially. Dublin needs to plan for growth, he said. "We're going to grow whether we want to or not. I mean, we're the hub of the county."
Address: 185 Jordan St.
Last book read: Rush Limbaugh's "The Way Things Ought to Be."
DUBLIN TOWN COUNCIL
(four candidates for three seats)
David Farmer
Previous service: Eight years on council.
Profession: Associate broker with Maddy Realty.
Comments: Previous accomplishments, particularly the acquisition of the Burlington Industries property since incorporated into the town, doubling its geographical size. He is anxious to see a new post office located there, replacing the congested facility in downtown Dublin.
Age: 50
Issues: When he joined council, Keister asked the members to write down their goals for the town. Farmer had just come from the town post office where people were complaining about cramped conditions and inadequate parking, and listed a new facility as a goal. Now that is planned for the Town Center in the industrial park. "I feel like we'll fill up that Town Center with business in a short period of time." Another challenge is maintaining the town's aging infrastructure.
Address: 308 Jordan St.
Last book read: "Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude."
Sam Gregory
Previous service: Eight years on council.
Profession: Self-employed as general contractor; worked previously at Hercules Inc. and Klopman Mills.
Comments: Points to the acquisition of the 101 acres of Burlington property and reduction of town taxes twice.
Age: 37
Issues: Nothing major. He is seeking re-election to help continue development of the Burlington site. "That's our pride and joy, really," he said. "That's the main reason I'm running again. I was in on that from the very start."
Address: 332 Jordan St.
Reading or TV favorites: Reads U.S. News & World Report regularly, watches "60 Minutes."
Alden Hankla
Previous service: Several terms on council, currently an incumbent.
Profession: Pharmacist.
Comments: The Burlington acquisition "was a wonderful opportunity and we're taking advantage of it." It has helped the town emerge from being in the red, financially, to being able to reduce taxes. "But it has to be managed properly."
Age: "Too much."
Issues: Continued development of the Burlington site "seems to be the main thing. We've had a very cooperative and working council with people of varied backgrounds and experience," he said.
Address: 424 Giles Ave.
Last show watched: A TV replay of the movie, "The Hunt for the Red October."
Colbern Linkous
Previous service: Four years on council previously, sole challenger in this election.
Profession: Meat cutter and market manager; retired from Lynchburg Foundry.
Comments: Notes that the town cut taxes twice during his previous council term and, he said, went from borrowing to paying. "We're setting a good example for the county."
Age: 75
Issues: "I want to try and keep the town independent in all endeavors." He also points out that he operates no business in the town and so could have no conflict of interest come up. His main reason for running is to block possible votes by another council member that might tend to relinquish power to the county. "I want to be in a position to stop this kind of thing before we lose control of the town." Had he been on council when the town and county worked out a boundary adjustment allowing the Burlington property to be brought into the corporate limits, and had he known the agreement included penalties for 15 years if Dublin annexed county territory without another town-county agreement, he would not have voted for it.
Address: 436 Maple St.
Entertainment: Outside of watching the news on television, he and his wife enjoy relaxing with "Wheel of Fortune." His main hobby is amateur radio.
LENGTH: Long : 107 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: 5 photos. KEYWORDS: POLITICS CITY COUNCIL MAYORby CNB