Roanoke City Politics

Roanoke Red Zone has an interesting post up about Republicans considering supporting David Bowers for Mayor over the incumbent Nelson Harris.  Bowers was the Democratic Mayor from 1992-2000 and even ran as our candidate for Congress against Bob Goodlatte in 1998, but when he ran for Council as the Democratic nominee in 2006 the Mayor helped an Independent slate defeat the Democrats running and then used that slate along with Delegate Onzlee Ware to take over the Democratic Committee, after they had just defeated the Democratic candidates. 

I think the people of Roanoke would be very smart to elect David Bowers as Mayor again even though he is running as an Independent and then they should consider a strong primary challenge to Onzlee Ware.  The Mayor's political games have broken the system in Roanoke, and if Bowers is not successful I think the City may fall into political chaos soon.

For those of you who don't know there has been a political alliance between Ware and another Delegate, Morgan "The Ostrich" Griffith and basically they work together to sink any candidate who don't kiss their collective butts.  Pathetic.

I hope the Republicans will reconsider their position and think about becoming the heroes in this situation to Save Roanoke.

UPDATE: Another outstanding candidate, Valerie Garner announces for Council.  The best candidates this year are running as Independents which is sad because it is much tougher to win, and it's not healthy for the political parties.  But that's where Roanoke has fallen.  Again, the Republicans have the chance here to put the community first.  The gain for them backing Bowers, Garner and other good Independents could be restoring the party's name in Roanoke City after the four year disaster known as Mayor Ralph Smith.

Comments

[Not Bev Fitzpatrick]

Ben...WTF HAVE YOU BEEN SMOKING?

Please! I'd LOVE to have some of it!

David Bowers ran in 2006 almost entirely on the premise of saving a stupid stadium so that no stadiums would be built at the two high schools. That was his ONLY policy premise.

Take a damn look at the precincts of the city back in 2006. He only won with any decent margins in parts of the city where 40 oz malt liquor bottle sales outnumber the sales of wine (and I'm NOT referring to Boone's Farm or MD 20/20).

The whole reason why the so-called "independent" ticket was created was because there was already a "Save Victory Stadium" ticket of Democrats in place.

In fact, there were plenty of Democrats who worked hard to support the three Democratic city council ticket who supported the "takeover" as you put it of the Roanoke City Committee.

You're talking nonsense like a crack whore walking on the corner of Patterson and 10th. If you don't know where that is...STFU about Roanoke politics!

[Not Larry Sabato]

NBV,

I know where that is, but I don't spend a lot of time there with the crack whores. :-)

So are you one of these "Democrats" that think it is ok for Onzlee to coordinate his political activities with Morgan Griffith? Onzlee's support of this group that took over the Democrats gives them two strikes in my opinion because they are probably also working with "The Ostrich".

[Not Bev Fitzpatrick]

Your comparison of "supporting Morgan Griffith" with "taking over the Democrats" shows that you have no clue what was going on within the committee.

Your failure to understand this makes me highly suspicious of how much you know about Roanoke politics. The fact that I'm "Not Bev Fitzpatrick" should also be fairly telling.

[Not Larry Sabato]

I noticed your screen name, so I assume you were involved in ousting that Democrat last week also?

[Not Bev Fitzpatrick]

Nope...I was out of town.

My whole point of concern is that you're putting two completely factually separate points together. Supporting David Bowers because of Onzlee Ware's actions is like supporting Bill Bestpitch because you don't like H&R Block. Making the opposition of David as city chair a "strike two" is simply trying to create a chance to attribute another strike to Onzlee's actions with Morgan Griffith.

[Not Larry Sabato]

OK, so enlighten me. Why should anyone trust the "Democrats" that Onzlee is supporting while he is working so closely with Morgan Griffith?

[Not Larry Sabato]

I will also point out that Onzlee has worked with Morgan to exclude Senator John Edwards from the regional Roanoke caucus meetings.

This is despite John being in the majority party in the Senate.

It's actually rather sad that Republicans in Roanoke City couldn't find their own damn candidates for Mayor and Council to take advantage of the split among the Democrats.

[dems4dems]

Roanoke? Isn't that somewhere in Kentucky?

[Not Larry Sabato]

Actually D4D, from our neighborhood we can get there faster than Virginia Beach.

[Not Bev Fitzpatrick]

On Point 1:
It's quite simple: there are PLENTY of other Democrats who supported those people along with Onzlee. To imagine Onzlee (or anyone else) as some grand puppet-master pulling all the strings is to seriously oversimplify the matter.

On Point 2:
Which "regional caucus meetings" are you referring to? I should note that there are a few groups that would use that term about themselves and some of them wouldn't give a rat's ass what Morgan Griffith thinks.

[Not Larry Sabato]

NBF, I am talking about the meetings that Morgan, Fralin, Onzlee and now Ralph Smith have to discuss regional issues that they won't invite John to because Morgan doesn't like him.

Sorry if I am oversimplifying but Onzlee's behavior is toxic and I think anyone that would associate themselves with that is probably not that great themselves.

[Roanoker]

David Bowers is only out for himself and voting for him would be a step backwards. The Roanoke Democratic Party needed the change- and they got it. Plus, anyone who aligns themselves with Granger MacFarlane.... well, the David Bowers ship has sailed, and it sunk.
Onzlee is a totally different situation. He needs to go- but that shouldn't bring down Reverend Harris or the other Dems who are determined to take the City in the right direction.
Tim Kaine- let Brian Shepard come back!

[Doug]

Sheesh- I don't know a whole lot here, but I thought Bowers was a decent mayor- not sure what he can take credit for- the Hotel Roanoke, O Winston, etc. but he did a good job. But EVERYONE, even us over here in Shangri La, knew it was idiotic to run to "save victory stadium". That is the one and only thing that happened there in 2006 and it was painfully obvious.

Bowers came out and "pimped" for Jim Webb though, and I'm grateful to him for that.

Rope a dope is doing ok, and they're going to do even better with the new art museum, but they got to do something about the competition at that insane little airport. They blew being a Delta and then a US Air hub and they've paid for that.

Maybe Gail for Rail could save Roanoke!? She could put in a TGV.

[Not Bev Fitzpatrick]

Well, I know that some people dislike John because he doesn't kiss ass. I know of Democrats who feel the same way about John. Typically when they air their view that they dislike John for not acting point-for-point with their view about their pet issues, that's the last time I talk to them.

My whole point (when I scroll up and look back to my original point) is that the city is already in "political chaos" for all intents and purposes. David isn't even close to a grand messiah of city politics and he's got enough baggage that a victory (even with Democrats who oppose Nelson Harris in the equation) isn't something I'd put my bets on. As for "political games," David and some of the previous party apparatchiks have been doing this for a number of years (e.g. the lack of consultation that Nelson and Bev got about whether or not they wanted a primary by the previous chair).

There are plenty of us with skidmarks on our bodies after being thrown under the bus in the valley dozens of times. This is what gets to the crux of my point: Whether or not Nelson's the best candidate for mayor is one question to which David isn't an optional answer.

[Not Larry Sabato]

Let me make this plug for David. In 1998 he had no chance against Goodlatte. He knew that, but he thought with everything going on at the time (impeachment etc) Democrats deserved a real name on the ballot for Congress. Good for him, we need more elected officials like that willing to take a loss for the party. (Full Disclosure, I worked for the DCCC in 1998).

I'd like to see Roanoke have more elected officials with integrity. That means more John Edwards' (even though he was wrong on what he did with those Tech families), more Brandon Bell's, and more David Bowers'. Once we are rid of the Onzlee Ware's and Morgan Griffith's in the region, then I'm open to talking about whether David is the best for the City.

One last question- what candidates other than local candidates has Nelson Harris ever helped? Is that healthy for the party? For either party?

[Roanoke]

NBV is right- Nelson Harris isn't the perfect answer- but he's worlds better than Bowers. I don't think the running for Congress thing holds water. Just because a person runs for Congress when they have no chance of winning doesn't mean they're a saint or a party hero; exhibit a: Jim Nachman.

FWIW: Harris endorsed Obama.... perhaps this is the source of Ben's fascination?

[Not Bev Fitzpatrick]

As for the art museum, it'll do well if it doesn't allow itself to get swallowed in idiocy by some people. By that, I mean Victory Stadium-ism.

The museum has quite a few works by John Cage promised to it; they should have those works out permanently if they get them. Same goes for their Jasper Johns piece. And Roanoke Symphony Orchestra shouldn't sound like a Lawrence Welk show all the time.

PS I call myself "Not Bev Fitzpatrick" to point out that Roanoke politics are nearly impossible to pin down into neat little categories.

[Not Bev Fitzpatrick]

Hmmmm, Roanoke...I think you're on to something. There are some people in the 6th District who somehow think that anyone who remotely considers opposing Goodlatte is a hero. Such ideas give me a world-class case of intellectual dyspepsia (as people who know me happen to know all too well).

[Not Larry Sabato]

NBF, I don't see any way the party comes together until we do something for Bowers. He was our nominee (by the rules) for Council in 2006 and the "Democratic" Mayor took him down. I think David serving with this much younger Council is a great combination for the City. Maybe with David's leadership one of these younger Councilmembers will challenge Onzlee and make his being Delegate a bad memory in our past.

[SaveCountryside]

NLS is exactly right. OW is pulling the strings here. I take offense to Not Bev regarding the area in which Bowers won in 2006. The reason Bev lost the primary was because of his "conflict of interest" IMG consulting with RHUD and the millions having to be refunded. His comment regarding the homeless "we are just too doggone nice" because our homeless number had increased also put him on the "get rid of" ticket. Court Rosen is his replacement hand picked by Rev. Nelson.

On Sen. Edwards ... he personally told me that OW pulled the rug out from under him on the legislative package. It was all show when Council requested the City to be able to hold referendums. They asked John publically but had Onzlee kill it in committee. This is fact. I was there today by the way. NLS seems to know more than most here on this subject.

[Not Bev Fitzpatrick]

SaveCountryside is right about Court Rosen, and Sherman Lea's alliance with Nelson Harris shouldn't be forgotten. My basic point is: if you oppose Onzlee because of Nelson's actions or vice versa, and then extend that opposition to everyone connected, you'll never get ANYTHING done!

[SaveCountryside]

NLS,
I have not noticed mention of the two Democrats that are running to oppose Goodlatte. Sam Rasoul has been campaigning for about a year now and a newcomer by the name of Drew Richardson.

[bubba]

Just one point on the hub thing - ROANOKE COULDN'T HAVE THE HUB WITH THE EXISTING AIRPORT.

This is one urban legend that won't go away. The limited footprint coupled with the MOUNTAINS make Roanoke's present airport an impossible site for a hub. If a hub was to ever get constructed, it would have to go in Bedford or Franklin County.

Oh, and the art museum is not a panacea for economic growth in the valley. The medical school/research center is a panacea.

Why is it the worse a collection an art museum has, the more it charges for admission?

[Not Bev Fitzpatrick]

Bubba's absolutely right, except I'd go so far as to say there is no such thing as a panacea for the area. It's gonna take a drastic change in the way some of these issues get thought of.

If people keep having an "all or nothing" war about their 200 different little pet projects, they'll get just that: nothing. That's because those pet projects interfere with each other.