ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, May 8, 1996 TAG: 9605080060
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: ELISSA MILENKY STAFF WRITER
Longtime incumbents Michael Chandler and Frances Parsons reclaimed their seats on Blacksburg Town Council, but newcomer Ron Rordam garnered the most votes as he captured the third open seat.
Todd Halwas, the other newcomer running in this year's election, did not win a seat.
Rordam, a local business owner who has served on Blacksburg's Planning Commission the last four years, said from the beginning he was not running against Town Council's current direction. Flexibility and maintaining the integrity of neighborhoods were among his selling points.
Though vote totals among the top three candidates were close, Rordam received 50 more votes than Chandler and 68 more than Parsons.
"It can always be beginner's luck," Rordam joked.
"I'm just looking forward to being on council and serving with the folks that are there now," he added. "We have a bright future."
Chandler, a Virginia Tech professor and expert in local government, congratulated Rordam on running a good campaign, adding he is appreciative of the community's continued support.
"I'm humbled," said Chandler, who will serve a third term on the council. "It's always, when you run for office, a humbling experience. I appreciate the faith voters have put in me, and I have honored that."
Parsons has served on Town Council since 1972.
There were no major issues defining this town election, which perhaps explains yet another year of low voter turnout - about 11 percent - in Blacksburg.
Halwas, an associate broker at Raines Real Estate in Blacksburg, set himself apart from the other candidates by running as a businessman who could offer a different perspective.
"I knew there would have to be a real big turnout for me to [have] a real big shot," he said. "Just the stands I took are somewhat controversial."
LENGTH: Short : 45 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshots) Rordam, Chandler, Parsons. KEYWORDS: ELECTIONby CNB