ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, January 16, 1997 TAG: 9701160045
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MICHAEL D. SHEAR THE WASHINGTON POST
A divided Prince William County Board of Supervisors has chosen Bern Ewert to be county executive, with members saying they believed the former Roanoke city manager and Explore Park founder could best address the county's need for better economic development.
The supervisors emerged from a five-hour closed session Tuesday night to announce the 5-3 decision to hire Ewert over James Bourey, a former Minneapolis area county administrator. Tuesday afternoon, each finalist gave a five-minute speech and shook hands with community members at an unusual public reception.
``I like what he did with downtown revitalization in Roanoke,'' said Supervisor Hilda Barg, who joined four colleagues in supporting Ewert. ``I really believe he has a tremendous amount of economic development experience. I support him and want to work with him.''
But the three dissenting supervisors looked angry. In brief statements, two of them said they did not believe that Ewert has the ability to deal well with the board and the community.
``We said we wanted someone with good interpersonal skills,'' said Supervisor Mary Hill. ``I don't feel that this has been exhibited so far.''
Supervisor Maureen Caddigan said, ``I had hoped there would be better people skills.''
Ewert has served for the last year as the city manager of Galveston, Texas, where officials said he was instrumental in helping the small city avoid bankruptcy.
David Bowers, a Galveston City Council member, said Ewert ``has a phenomenal ability to turn a very dysfunctional organization around."
``He brought in much-needed new talent and set our finances and operations on an even keel. He is a terrific inspiration to a lot of reform elements in the community.''
But Ewert also clashed often with some council members and the mayor and got into a dispute over the time he took for vacations. At one meeting, according to Bowers and local newspaper stories, a member of council challenged Ewert to a fistfight on the steps of City Hall.
Ewert's hiring brings him back to the state where he has spent most of his career. He served seven years as Roanoke's city manager, resigning in 1985 to lead a push to build Explore Park in eastern Roanoke County. Ewert was credited as the visionary behind the living-history park, but the park's governing body declined to renew his contract in 1991 after he failed to raise the millions necessary to build the Disney-like operation he had proposed.
Ewert, reached by phone after his selection Tuesday night, said: ``I'm really happy. I'm delighted. Virginia is a wonderful place to work.'' Reacting to criticism from some supervisors, he said, ``I take their concerns very seriously and will work to earn their support over the next few months.''
He will become Prince William executive March1.
Success in economic development has been a key focus of supervisors during the search for a new executive.
For several years, the county has had only spotty success in attracting new businesses. Two medium-size high-technology companies announced last year that they were moving to Prince William. But those successes have been overshadowed by some high-profile losses, including Walt Disney Co.'s decision not to build a theme park near Haymarket.
Supervisors say bringing new businesses to the county and expanding existing businesses are vitally important, because the taxes from a larger base of commercial development will help fund costly services for Prince William's growing population.
In October, County Executive James Mullen left to become city manager of Colorado Springs. He had served for six years and won praise for his effective management of the county's finances.
But Mullen also clashed frequently with board members, some of whom chided him for what they said was a brash style of leadership.
Roanoke Times staff writer Dwayne Yancey contributed to this report.
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