ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, March 12, 1997 TAG: 9703120073
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CHRISTINA NUCKOLS THE ROANOKE TIMES
Don Terp's decision to run may compel Hollins incumbent Bob Johnson to run for his fourth term.
Don Terp has made a name for himself in Roanoke County by crusading against government officials. Now he wants to become one of them.
Terp will announce his candidacy for the Hollins District seat on the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Hollins branch of the county library on Peters Creek Road. He filed petitions with the county's Office of Elections Tuesday to qualify as a candidate.
The leader of the Concerned Citizens for Good Government, which successfully campaigned against the county's school bond referendum, hinted shortly after its April 1996 defeat that he might challenge Hollins Supervisor Bob Johnson this fall.
Terp said he'll run as an independent candidate.
"I asked around, and I think people vote for the candidate," he said.
He said his decision was not affected by criticism he's received from local Republican leaders since he left that party in 1990.
Terp said he hopes Johnson will run against him, but he added that his decision to run is not a personal attack against the Democrat who has represented the Hollins District for 12 years.
"Bob Johnson isn't in the equation at all," Terp said.
Johnson said Tuesday he has not made a decision on whether he will seek a fourth term.
"I had decided probably not to run, but now that he's running, I'll consider it seriously," Johnson said.
Although Terp has been known for his sharp attacks against county officials, he said those expecting fireworks might be a bit disappointed.
"I'm going to be very conservative this time," he said. "I'm not going to shoot guns all over the place, but I'm going to hold [county officials'] feet to the fire."
In fact, Terp has words of cautious praise for county officials' plan to create an industrial park on the Glenn-Mary farm on U.S. 11/460 in Glenvar.
"I just think the idea's good," he said, adding that he needed more detailed information about the plans, which were announced Tuesday.
On the other hand, Terp said he would take the county to task for being "too secretive," but declined to discuss specifics. He said his campaign would focus on the need to lower taxes and to improve management of county government, which he described as "loose."
Terp, 74, was born and raised in Westfield, N.J. He held a variety of jobs, including owning a camera shop and selling life insurance, before he went to work for Hewlett-Packard. He stayed with that company for more than 20 years.
While in Roanoke County, he became a public figure for his opposition to the Spring Hollow Reservoir, the 1990 proposal to merge Roanoke County and Roanoke and last year's school bond referendum.
LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: CINDY PINKSTON THE ROANOKE TIMES, FILE JULY 1, 1996. Donby CNBTerp gained notoriety for his opposition to a county/city merger,
the Spring Hollow Reservoir and a pricey school bond referendum. KEYWORDS: POLITICS BOARD OF SUPERVISORS