ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, January 27, 1997 TAG: 9701270012
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: & Now This
Roanoke County Supervisor Lee Eddy has more in common with Sen. John Warner and Bob Dole than party affiliation. All three Republicans also are in their 70s.
Although age hasn't kept Warner and Dole off the campaign trail, Eddy admits that turning 70 gave him pause. So, before announcing last week that he would seek a fourth term on the Board of Supervisors, he sent out a survey to see whether constituents think he's too old for the job.
Eddy sent 180 post cards to readers of the Roanoke County Reporter, a newsletter he publishes each month giving an account of board meetings. Most readers live in his district.
"To the best of my knowledge, my health, enthusiasm and judgment are as good as ever, but many people of my age start losing some of their previously held faculties, and I do not want to become Roanoke County's version of Strom Thurmond," the attached note read.
Eddy also invited respondents to recommend his retirement if they just didn't like the way he voted during his term on the board.
The survey says: Go for it.
Of the 89 respondents, 76 encouraged Eddy to run again, 12 were against it and one was noncommittal, he said. Those advising against another term weren't concerned about age, Eddy said; they were critical of his lack of support for the April school bond referendum and for the Back Creek community's efforts to keep U.S. 221 within its existing alignment.
- CHRISTINA NUCKOLS
LENGTH: Short : 36 linesby CNB