ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, September 28, 1996 TAG: 9609300036
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DWAYNE YANCEY STAFF WRITER
HOW TO KEEP US RURAL? One voter asks to hear congressional candidates talk about how to balance development and preserving open space.
When Stephen Hall moved to Montgomery County seven years ago, he figured his new home near the foot of Price Mountain was deep in the country, and would stay that way.
"We thought, 'Gosh, this is a rural area; it'll probably be rural for a long time. This area has a long rural tradition.'''
But now, he's not so sure. "The amount of change taking place in this area since we moved here is stunning," says the 30-year-old computer programmer who grew up in fast-growing Orlando, Fla.
The pace of that change is something he'd like to see the region's congressional candidates address. And it's a subject that popped up occasionally this summer, when The Roanoke Times talked with small groups of randomly selected voters to see what was on their minds as the fall elections approached.
But when presented with Hall's question about development, many of the candidates for Senate and House of Representatives backed off, saying that land use is an issue best left to local governments.
"Yet the federal government really is involved on some of the big issues," Hall points out, including the three specific examples he cited.
The proposed "smart" road between Blacksburg and Interstate 81 has received some federal funding and would become part of the interstate highway system. The controversy over a housing development within sight of the Blue Ridge Parkway involved the National Park Service. And the proposed American Electric Power high-voltage line would cross national forest land - something the U.S. Forest Service has recommended against.
Meanwhile, some other development issues Hall didn't ask about - but which some candidates cited - also involve the federal government. For instance, both Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Roanoke, in the 6th District and Democratic candidate Virgil Goode in the 5th District have stressed their support for building Interstate 73, which would run roughly from Blacksburg to Roanoke to Martinsville.
Nevertheless, Hall was grateful that all the candidates acknowledged development is an issue worth talking about.
However, he thought some candidates did a better job of answering the question than others.
"I wasn't real happy with John Warner's answer," Hall says, pointing out that the Republican senator made the strongest case for land use as a local issue. "But I didn't particularly like [Democratic challenger] Mark Warner's answer, either. I thought he just repeated my question back. I thought the congressional candidates gave better answers," perhaps because they're closer to the situation.
He noted that Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Abingdon, spoke out strongest in favor of the region, promoting its natural beauty as a tourist attraction.
Hall predicts that growth is an issue that more voters will want federal candidates to talk about in the future. "It's in people's minds, and it's going to be increasing as time goes on," he says.
LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines KEYWORDS: POLITICS CONGRESSby CNB