ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, May 8, 1996 TAG: 9605080080
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: S.D. HARRINGTON STAFF WRITER
NOTE: Below
MOST OF THE VOTERS interviewed Tuesday said the only real issue to them was how to keep the city in the shape it's in.
As results from the final three precincts were chalked onto the board at the Salem Registrar's office Tuesday night, City Council incumbent Alex Brown sighed and quietly said, "Business as usual."
Salem voters sent both Brown and incumbent Howard Packett back to City Council.
But Harry Haskins proved to be the most popular man in Salem Tuesday, outpolling the other four independent candidates for the three council seats that were being contested.
Haskins, the city's former police chief, received 3,210 votes from 4,682 voters.
Brown received the second highest number of votes with 2,720, and Packett was a close third with 2,696.
John Moore lost by only 261 votes, receiving 2,435 of the ballots cast, and Salem businessman Steve Smeltzer came in last with 1,421 votes.
In what seemed to be an election with few divisive issues and a pretty satisfied constituency, the two incumbents said their records on City Council proved to be their best campaign tool.
"I think the voters are pretty well satisfied with how the city is run," said Brown, who will enter his fifth term on City Council.
"If everything's OK, then the incumbents usually win the election," said Packett, who will enter his fourth term.
Haskins, who retired last November after serving 20 years as police chief, carried the second highest percentage of voters in a City Council election since Salem became a city in 1968. He received votes from 68.5 percent of those who went to the polls Tuesday.
Only Brown has done better. When he was first elected to City Council in 1980, 75 percent of the voters cast ballots for him.
"I think Mr. Haskins feels the same about the city as we do," Brown said.
Haskins said he was surprised to receive so many votes.
"I felt good about 6:30 this morning. I had a feeling of confidence," he said. "But I had no idea it would be this much."
Haskins said he did not try to align himself with any other candidates. He believes name recognition as police chief and his 32-member campaign committee helped him the most.
Thirty-eight percent of Salem's 12,252 registered voters went to the voting booths despite a cold, damp spring day.
Most of the voters interviewed Tuesday said the only real issue to them was how to keep the city in the shape it's in.
"I am very impressed with Salem, said Pamela Hermannsson. "I think they've done a good job. It's just a matter of maintaining and improving."
Klaas Hoen said there were no particular issues on his mind when he voted. He said he did want to see some new faces on City Council, but "not a complete turnover.''
Moore, who led an aggressive door-to-door campaign, said he felt both discouraged by the loss but encouraged by his showing on his first try for elective office.
"I did this as well as I could do it," said the former Salem School Board chairman. "I don't really think - this time - I could have done any better."
Moore said his campaign did bring some issues to light, including a proposal by the city to build a golf course in Mowles Spring Park.
After talking with residents, he concluded that "the citizens ... want a multipurpose park."
Because the issue has been raised, Moore said, City Council will have a tougher time passing plans for a golf course without a vote by the people.
Smeltzer, who also was making his first run for elected office, said he learned a lot of things from the race.
"Organization is probably the biggest factor," he said.
Smeltzer and Moore both said they will consider trying again.
LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines KEYWORDS: ELECTIONby CNB