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

[SaveCountryside]

So true, Bev, the comprehensive plan is a patchwork of uncomprehensible oddities. They dismiss the plan as it suites them. I live at the airport and there are still those who think a runway over I-581 is feasible. We lost Dell due to 747s unable to land. Actually they said they could land but not take off which is kindof important.

I ran across a REAL comprehensive plan for a city about the size of Roanoke. It was Racine, Wisconsin - now there was a comprehensive plan. I don't have the link handy but if anyone wants to see what a real plan is like ... google Racine, Wisconsin plan or something like that.

[Not Larry Sabato]

While we are on the topic of what Roanoke can do to improve itself, I would suggest a tax increase for schools. No world class community underfunds education like Roanoke City and County do.

[SaveCountryside]

NLS, that is part of my platform ... might be in the Roanoke Times in the morning. I'm a naieve newbie so be "gentle Ben".

[Not Larry Sabato]

It's up:

http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/151320

Looks great- good luck!!

[martha]

How much do any of you know about David Bowers' personal life? There are so many rumors about him. Pretty bad stuff, actually.
I would avoid David Bowers like the plague.

[Doug]

I still think Gail for Rail could save Roanoke.

[Not Larry Sabato]

Martha, I am aware of all the "rumors". That having been said, do we really want to make election choices on rumors? I don't think so.

[martha]

I said rumors, BUT I have inside info that they aren't rumors at all. Of course I can't prove it BUT many people pretty much KNOW about his history!

[I.Publius]

What a hilarious thread. More evidence that NLS doesn't know his ass from a hole in the ground.

[Brandon Bell]

Ben,

I think the comments here have lost the main thrust of the post by Zak. The point is not whether David Bowers would make a good Mayor but the hypocrisy of the sender of the original email. This is a Roanoke "Republican" who led the effort to call me a RINO and put Ralph Smith in the 22nd senate seat. He then does nothing to recruit republican candidates to run for council and seeks to be part of the Bowers run. Just unbelievable to me. Seems like he is not satisfied in only tearing down the Republican house but wants to put a torch to the collapse.

[SaveCountryside]

Thank you Ben for your kind words. I will do my best. I mean what I say passionately. I'm off to the Dr. Martin Luther King Statue unveiling and hope to be a regular blogger here. Ask anything about me you get a straight answer. Yes, Bowers is a character and I know his personal life. However, I like NLS only care how good a Mayor, Senator, or President does their job in their position. I hope to have some pictures of the unveiling today on my blog.

[I.Publius]

Not Larry Sabato said:

"OK, I let you comment for over a year, but over half your recent comments are attacking me- if you were contributing more to other discussions I would let it slide, but now it's mostly attack me and rarely anything else. So you are banned."

Banned, huh? Bummer.

[Bubba]

Roanoke, like most communities, cannot tax itself out of its present situation. Roanoke, like many charter cities, is already up against its debt ceiling.

IMHO Roanoke City, Vinton, and Roanoke County (Salem will always be its own People's Republic) should have merged into a Tidewater-like city a while ago. But, that can't happen in today's environment despite the benefits such an arrangement could bring to our region.

[SaveCountryside]

Your right Bubba. They are looking at 9.8% with ceiling of 10%. The two new High Schools at over $100 million really pinched them. We tried to get a fire hydrant on our street for 5 years ... "we have no money".

[Doug in Mount Vernon]

OK so just a quick observation....so, it's OK to "work with" (or at least communicate with Senator Cuccinelli during his election cycle with Janet, thereby undermining her election directly.

But when a Dem and GOP delegate who represent a city/region communicate for the benefit of their constituents (ok I know some will take issue with that, but still), it's considered treasonous?

Double-standards still abound here...

[Billie Jo]

Martha...could you be talking about David's ex wives and their allegations?

[bubba]

And of course the save countryside folks have to honestly reflect on the need to enlarge the tax base in roanoke city and what the golf course acreage may be able to contribute.

In the region we all know it's a NIMBY thing with countryside.

[Billie Jo]

Bubba, what would they not want in their back yard?

Could it be certain *cough* kinds of people?

[SaveCountryside]

Bubba you have it all wrong. It is equity and fairness for recreational opportunites "thing". There are no recreational options here in this quadrant of the city. There are no parks of any kind here. The golf course makes a profit which I gave Council the figures on this evening. This golf course brings in the business visitors from the airport hotels. Has a great place for the Multi-generational facility to share with the adjacent High School. The High School golf team uses this course as does the County's High School. I have not met one Roanoke city citizen that thinks development is the right vision for the golf course.

[bubba]

A golf course is not a park.

The save countryside thing is a NIMBY thing and that's OK. Call a spade a spade. You like living next to a golf course for the open space attributes it brings to your neighborhood. It's ok to admit that. Heck, you would be warped not to admit it. BUt by the same token you have to admit that in charter cities with no options for land expansion they have to look within for redevelopment purposes.

So it's ok for the rest of the city to suggest that this acreage may have a more profitable use in the big picture. Doesn't make it any easier of an issue for the neighborhood, but it brings a degree of honesty to the dialogue.

Now, if you had a true destination golf course there, you know, one that attracts REAL golf visitors and PGA sanctioned tournaments, then you would have an argument. Perhaps you should suggest that the city rip up the weak countryside course and replace it with a TPC level facility instead? Now that could make some bucks for Roanoke.

[Not Roy Bedwell]

Who else is expected to announce for Roanoke City Council? Aren't there a number of folks expected to announce, aside from Bowers?

[SaveCountryside]

NRB,
Not sure I've heard commented that Anita Powell and Joseph Lee on RHA.

Bubba, I won't try to explain anymore - the property has issues for development - the airport runway protection zone cuts through the middle. It also is in the 65DNL noise level. Residential usage is discouraged by the FAA. There are already federal funds being allocated for noise abatement in the area. It's always a NIMBY attack when it is NIYBY (Not In Your Back Yard).

[Roanoke Expat]

Valerie Garner is a kook, not to mention self-appointed leader of the "NO" constituency in Roanoke.

She is incapable of imagining a Roanoke unlike the one of her youth. In her mind they'd reopen Jefferson High School, rebuild Victory Stadium, put the barn back where Valley View is, and roll up the runway at RRA.

What she, and Mac MacCadden, David Bowers, and the rest of this cabal fail to realize, is that the Roanoke they harken back to is gone for good.

"Equity and fairness" come with progress.

In a city where it is common place to read about another homicide in Northwest, continued denial of gang activity, subterfuge in the school administration, teen pregnancy, and more, the elected leaders come to fisticuffs over a dilapidated, antiquated, single use facility that ended up falling down before they could tear it down.

This isn't about Bowers, Harris, Ware, Griffith, or even Garner. The person this is about isn't listed because they haven't stepped forward.

Roanoke needs a strong leader who can bring folks together either by their ideas or their elbows. This leader needs to be brutally honest with the electorate, and be not afraid of FIGHTING to focus on the issues that are important to the majority of citizens.

Unfortunately, that person isn't running for election this time.

[bubba]

There is nothing inherantly wrong with being a NIMBY. I don't understand why NIMBY folks try and hide it. Same story over in Franklin County with the proposed Spa development.

NIMBY is why we have planning and zoning regulations, commissions, and public meetings in the first place. Just say, "I want the golf course to remain as it adds to my quality of life", rather than bringing a bunch of other crapola into the fight.

As for the other thing - Roanoke doens't need "A" leader. Grab a dictionary and look up: Richmond, Mayor of, for example.

[Not Roy Bedwell]

Expat, who are you referring to?