ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, July 1, 1996 TAG: 9607010104
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: S.D. HARRINGTON STAFF WRITER
SONNY TARPLEY, expected to be named Salem's new mayor today, reflects on the challenge of succeeding Jim Taliaferro.
While Salem Vice Mayor Sonny Tarpley was knocking on doors during his 1994 re-election campaign, a man in North Salem assured Tarpley he would vote for him.
"The guy said he would vote for me because we needed a change," he recalls.
The man didn't realize that Tarpley had been on Salem City Council for 20 years.
That story may tell the most about Tarpley's quiet tenure on council.
During his 22 years, Tarpley has sat in the shadow of Mayor Jim Taliaferro, a domineering and involved leader who held much of the spotlight.
Today, Tarpley is expected to move into that spotlight as Taliaferro steps down from his 24-year council career.
"I've been there with him through it all," Tarpley says of Taliaferro's career.
In fact, Tarpley first nominated Taliaferro as mayor in 1972 (Salem, unlike Roanoke, does not elect a mayor directly; instead, council appoints one of its members to the post). And now, he's the first to praise Taliaferro for his strong leadership.
But he's also quick to point out that Salem is where it is today because of five members of council and not just one man.
When Taliaferro stated an opinion in the past, he was sure to have the support of the four council members around him, Tarpley said.
It's tough to compare Tarpley and Taliaferro.
Taliaferro, 60, is a contractor who rarely wears ties to work and keeps an unpredictable schedule. Tarpley, 54, is vice president of Salem Bank & Trust and dons a jacket and tie during his 9-to-5 office hours.
And Taliaferro was a dynamic spokesman for the city.
"I've always had my opinions. But I've pretty much been a behind-the-scenes person all my life," Tarpley said.
Tarpley says he will try to model some of his leadership style after his successor - the way he represented other council members' opinions, the strong relationship with other governments while keeping a "Salem first" philosophy, and the dedication of time Taliaferro spent to his responsibilities as mayor.
But, generally, Tarpley says he's going to play it his way.
"I'm going to be myself," Tarpley said. "I can't be Jim [Taliaferro]. I intend to work very hard at being the mayor."
His bank has been supportive and is willing to work with the new schedule.
Tarpley remembers 1972 when he was first elected to City Council.
Taliaferro was finishing his second year. He and former vice mayor Mac Green were newcomers, and Salem's city status was only four years old.
"Salem was not first-class in 1972," Tarpley said. There was no school system. Salem was still contracting with Roanoke County.
And the city's police department resources were inadequate, Tarpley said.
Now, the city's 13-year-old school system is highly rated in the state. Salem is quickly becoming known as the sports mecca of Southwest Virginia, hosting NCAA tournaments in five sports.
And the police department has upgraded virtually every law-enforcement resource it has and also has its own police academy.
"We took Salem from a town to a first-class city," Tarpley said.
Tarpley says Taliaferro has left with the city in good shape.
Just last week, the city signed a deal with Roanoke College to acquire about 521/2 acres of possible future commercial or industrial land - a major need in a city that is about 95 percent built up and can't grow because of Virginia's strict annexation laws.
One challenge he sees is rebuilding the city's reserve fund, of which a large chunk went to fund the $5 million cost overrun on Salem Memorial Baseball Stadium last year.
"I'm fiscally a pretty conservative guy," Tarpley said.
Despite Tarpley's supporter in 1994 who wanted to see change on City Council, Tarpley really isn't expecting to change much after he assumes the gavel today.
As far as he's concerned, the change has already happened, and he just wants to continue down the path Salem has been headed.
"Why change a good thing?" he said.
LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: CINDY PINKSTON/Staff. Sonny Tarpley, Salem Bank & Trustby CNBvice president, Salem vice mayor and a longtime Jim Taliaferro ally,
said that as mayor he would
lead in his own way. color.