THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 8, 1995 TAG: 9510080067
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PERRY PARKS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: Medium: 52 lines
The city needs to make better use of its natural surroundings, Randall Sherman says.
``This little town, with its location on the waterfront, to me seems to be very ripe . . . for renovation and revitalization,'' says Sherman, 46. ``Our downtown really looks pretty pitiful, even though we've got a ton of just gorgeous waterfront.''
With the proper effort, the downtown could become like a small Charleston, S.C., or like Norfolk's Waterside, Sherman says. And he'd like to be in on efforts to make it happen.
Sherman, a neurosurgeon who trained in Oklahoma and Chicago, moved here about five years ago. Sherman says he has a very stable practice, which gives him time for other activities, like City Council service.
The city, Sherman said, ``could be an excellent place to draw the retirement community,'' people who currently ``are not coming here.''
Sherman expressed mixed feelings on how the council operates.
``They seem to certainly be thorough in terms of looking at all sides of the various questions they have, and they seem to get along reasonably well,'' Sherman said.
But, he added, ``It seems like they do tend to get bogged down.''
``I don't know whether I could help or not,'' Sherman says of the council's wavering. But he wouldn't let it go without putting in his 2 cents' worth.
Sherman says he'd also like to push for a regional lottery, if such a movement is possible. Revenue from a lottery could help the city pay for improvements like a youth center and a public pool that tax money has been unable to provide, he says.
Sherman says he has put about $900 into the campaign, all his own money. He has mailed fliers to 1st Ward voters and has put signs around the community.
The Shermans have an 8-year-old daughter, who attends school in Kitty Hawk because they prefer the Dare County school system, Sherman says.
The family is expecting another child soon, he says.
Sherman won't speculate on how the election will turn out.
``I don't know how to feel about it,'' he says. ``I don't know what the mood of the community is, or how many people will actively get out and vote.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
Sherman
KEYWORDS: ELIZABETH CITY CITY COUNCIL RACE CANDIDATES by CNB