ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times

DATE: Friday, April 11, 1997                 TAG: 9704110040
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: C-3  EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: DAN CASEY THE ROANOKE TIMES

ROANOKE'S VOTER REGISTRAR RETIRES AFTER 6-YEAR TENURE SHE LED EFFORTS TO BOOST REGISTRATION

Shelva S. Painter has been on sick leave since last year. Louella Thaxton will succeed her.

The woman who has shepherded Roanoke's election system for the past six years is retiring.

City Registrar Shelva S. Painter, who has been on extended sick leave since last year, announced her retirement on Wednesday.

On Thursday, the city Electoral Board appointed Louella Thaxton of Northwest Roanoke to replace Painter.

Painter joined the city in 1981 as an assistant registrar. She was named acting general registrar in 1991, and was appointed general registrar in March 1994.

The registrar is appointed by the city Electoral Board. Its three members are appointed by Roanoke's Circuit Court judges.

During her tenure, Painter led efforts to expand city voter registration by allowing citizens to register in any registrar's office in the state and at special registration sites throughout the city prior to elections.

In March 1996, she helped the city implement the National Voter Registration Act - also known as "Motor Voter." It allows voter registrations at the time a driver's license is renewed.

For every election, Painter coordinated the activities of more than 200 election officers who handled the voting process at precincts.

Thaxton, 51, is a lifelong city resident and a graduate of Roanoke Catholic High School. She has studied at Virginia Western Community College and is pursuing certification as a general registrar through the University of Virginia.

In 1989, Thaxton joined the registrar's office as an assistant registrar. She was later promoted to deputy registrar and was named acting registrar in February.

"She is a true professional and she is as friendly and courteous with the public as she is knowledgable and efficient in running her office and Election Day operations," said Gilbert Butler, secretary of the Electoral Board.

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