THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 29, 1994 TAG: 9406280111
SECTION: ISLE OF WIGHT CITIZEN PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LINDA McNATT, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: 940629 LENGTH: ISLE OF WIGHT
They also will be deciding if Isle of Wight County should have a meals tax, such as many other Hampton Roads localities already impose.
{REST} And voters in the Windsor district may be electing a new representative to the county Board of Supervisors.
Steve Edwards, a Smithfield lawyer serving his second term on the board, announced recently that he will be resigning. The reason, Edwards said, is that he soon will be moving out of the Windsor District.
Edwards, a Windsor native who graduated from Windsor High School and lives there with his wife - also a lawyer - and two children, said that the decision came as a result of a hunt for a larger home that has gone on for over a year.
For some time, he said, the family restricted its search to the Windsor area.
But recently a home in the Moonlight area of the county, in northern Isle of Wight near the Surry County line, came on the market that was just what they were looking for.
``My family has loved living near Windsor,'' Edwards said. ``Windsor Elementary is a great school. My daughters and I have enjoyed playing and coaching soccer and T-ball. They have both been active participants in the Windsor School of Dance. My wife will miss the Windsor Junior Woman's Club.''
The key to exactly what will happen in the fall election concerning a Windsor supervisor depends on when Edwards closes on his new home and makes his resignation official.
If he closes before July 14, which he hopes to do, he said, the remaining supervisors will appoint a representative to serve until a special election in November.
If he closes on the house after July 14, the Windsor supervisor's election would not be held until November 1995, with the appointee serving until that time.
Does Edwards plan to slip into a similar position in the Hardy District, where his new home is located? Current supervisor Henry Bradby may well be looking at retiring by 1997, when that post comes up for re-election.
``No, no plans at all,'' Edwards said.
But he does have an idea about the kind of person he would like to see replace him on the board.
``I'd like to see two things in a replacement,'' Edwards said. ``I'd like to see someone who is a strong supporter of public education, and I'd like to see somebody who can work well with the other board members.''
Meanwhile, Edwards, who has been one of the board's strongest proponents of a meals tax in the county, may see that issue resolved in November.
``It would be the closest thing to a progressive tax we could get,'' he said. ``It would be something that people traveling through the county would share with locals in paying.
``Two of the primary benefits I see would be to public education and senior citizens. Proceeds from a meals tax could, for example, completely fund the senior companion program.''
In order to get the referendum for a meals tax on the Nov. 8 ballot, the supervisors must now follow their vote with a request to the Circuit Court for a judge to issue an order to the local electoral board, said Michael Brown, with the State Board of Elections.
Once the vote is held, if approved, it would be up to the supervisors to set the amount of the meals tax. State law allows counties to charge up to 4 cents on the dollar. Cities may charge up to 5 cents. This is over and above the state sales tax of 4.5 cents.
Voters also will have three proposed amendments to the state constitution to consider. One involves lawsuits involving injuries to children, another has to do with voter registration and the third involves amendments the governor makes to bills he sends back to the General Assembly.
{KEYWORDS} MEAL TAX
by CNB