ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, May 7, 1996 TAG: 9605070107
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DAN CASEY STAFF WRITER
The heat got turned up on Roanoke's unusually sedate City Council campaigns over the weekend with a bright pink flier urging black voters to cast their ballots against Mayor David Bowers.
Flanked by elected Democrats and a handful of angry black residents, Bowers called a news conference Monday to denounce the unsigned page, calling it a "typical, last-minute, negative Republican scurrilous attack."
But Republicans, including the GOP mayoral challenger, claimed they had nothing to do with it. And they noted that the flier urges people to vote for two Democrats - Councilwoman Linda Wyatt and candidate Carroll Swain.
The page was placed underneath car windshield wipers outside black churches across Northwest Roanoke on Sunday morning.
The flier's most provocative claim is that Bowers has abandoned black residents in favor of "the business community." It urges votes for the mayor's opponent, Republican J. Patrick Green, GOP council candidate Jeff Artis, and Democrats Swain and Wyatt.
The flier reads: "Bowers says 'he does not need the support of the Black Community' and states 'he intends to reach out to the business community for support.' It is clear our Community IS NOT A PRIORITY on his political agenda."
It also criticizes the mayor for changing his position on a referendum on a modified ward system and for his lack of support for a citizen review panel to investigate complaints of police brutality.
But several black residents who appeared with the mayor Monday defended him and took umbrage at the leaflet.
"The first line made me angry," said the Rev. Ben Tyree, who found a copy of the flier on his car Sunday outside his church. "[Bowers] and I have disagreed in the past, but I've never heard him say he doesn't need the support of the black community ... I don't think it's fair."
"I can tell you as a person who's worked with the mayor for the past six years, he's mayor of all the people," said Vice Mayor William White, one of three blacks who serve on Council.
Other candidates also denounced the leaflet. GOP contender Green criticized Bowers for staging a news conference about it and trying to blame Republicans.
"It had nothing to do with me or the party at all," Green said. "I've run a clean campaign, and everyone knows it. You know what it is? It's last minute desperation on the part of David Bowers. Shame on you, David."
Swain, one of three blacks running for election, said he was "rather despondent" when he found the flier on his car after church because its message is divisive.
GOP contender Alvin Nash, who also is black and wasn't endorsed on the flier, said it's ridiculous to believe Republicans are behind it.
"I'm not endorsed, am I?" Nash said. "Look who it's endorsing: Linda Wyatt. Is she a Republican? ... I was hoping we're beyond this, but evidently we're not."
Wyatt said she has no idea where the flier came from.
Exactly who distributed the flier was unclear. But part of it appears identical to a sample ballot distributed by the Peoples Voters League, a black organization based in Northwest Roanoke. It is headed by businessman A. Byron Smith, who could not be reached for comment.
"I think it's a good flier," said Gainsboro activist Evelyn Bethel, who has clashed with Bowers in the past.
"It's a great ticket," said her sister, Helen Davis.
LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines KEYWORDS: POLITICS MAYORby CNB