Mark Warner Steps In To Prevent Onzlee Ware Takeover of Roanoke Politics

Roanoke City politics is probably one of the most interesting to follow in Virginia.  In 1998, Democratic Mayor David Bowers challenged Congressman Bob Goodlatte after Goodlatte came out in favor of the impeachment of President Bill Clinton.  Bowers put his neck out for Democratic values and got it chopped off when the 6th district voted overwhelmingly for Goodlatte.

Soon after in 2000 when Bowers sought re-election a prominent African American challenged him as an Independent splitting the Democratic vote- and allowing Ralph Smith to be elected Mayor with less than 40% of the vote.

In 2004, Smith decided not to run again, and Bowers comeback attempt was foiled by 8 votes in the Democratic Caucus, when he narrowly lost to Nelson Harris.

In 2006 Bowers led a slate of three Democrats for the three Council seats.  Harris decided to split the party and with Onzlee Ware, supported three Independents against the three Democrats.  The three Independents backed by the Democratic Mayor and Democratic Delegate all prevailed.  When the Democratic Committee threatened action against Harris and Ware for opposing the Democratic nominees, a takeover was done of the committee, and longtime Democrats were thrown out!

Then in 2008, Harris got his slate of three for the other Council seats nominated by the local Democrats to run with him.  All three Democrats for Council backed by Harris won.  But, Harris did not- as David Bowers challenged him as an Independent, and defeated the Democratic Mayor.

So now you have an Independent Mayor (who is really a Democrat), three Democrats on Council who don't like the Mayor, three Independents on Council who don't like the Mayor and all aligned with the Democratic Delegate to undermine the former Democratic Mayor.

I'm oversimplifying here, but to get into all the coalitions here would take days.

Anyway, the Council recently decided to eliminate the Mayor's Secretary as political payback for him and in their continued efforts to undermine his leadership.  Mark Warner who was clearly watching these rogue "Democrats" immediately stepped in and hired the fired Secretary as his aide in his Roanoke office!  Nice! 

Roanoke, could you get a stronger signal from Mark to get rid of these rogue "Democrats" on Council and in the House of Delegates?

Comments

[You Walked Into That One]

So you're saying, then, that Roanoke should elect Republicans? ;)

Interesting comment of yours:

"Bowers put his neck out for Democratic values and got it chopped off when the 6th district voted overwhelmingly for Goodlatte." So "Democratic values" are not to imnpeach a President who committed a felony Federal crime (perjury)? Nice to know!

[Flipper]

BREAKING NEWS NOT LARRY SABATO APPEARS TO BE SUPPORTING REPUBLICAN BILL CLEAVELAND IN THE 17TH DISTRICT!

HIS OPPONENT, DEMOCRAT GWEN MASON, IS ONE OF THE THREE "INDEPENDENTS" THAT WARE BACKED IN 2006.

[Not Larry Sabato]

I don't know Bill Cleaveland.

But you are correct that I have not endorsed Gwen Mason.

Pay closer attention and these things wouldn't be "breaking news". :-)

[Weldon]

Oh Bullhockey! Mark Warner is making an appearance for Gwen Mason in Roanoke on Monday!

The "elimination" of the Mayor's secretary was a recommendation of the City clerk. The secretary was an employee of the City Clerk's office and all departments had been asked to reduce employees to deal with the budget crisis. Council members are prohibited from interfering with administrative isues--such as employment-- by the City Charter. In addition, it is doubtful a part time mayor needs a full time secretary.

Bowers lost in 2000 with 32 % of the vote. The "prominent African American" who ran has since run against Delegate Ware (and got soundly whipped in 2007). Ware's primary opponent in 2009 also got his tail kicked at the polls.

There are more inaccuracies in your post but I just don't have the time to cure such a serious case of ignorance and just plain dumbassedness as you exhibit.

Oh and you haven't endorsed Mason??? Oh good heavens!!
What will we do?? Oh...I know, we'll try the Ben Tribett solution--"Scream and shout--Run about!"

[Henry Hale]

You seem to know a little about what Onzlee Ware is about. I was born and raised in Roanoke, and my family has been a fixture in the city for over 100 years. There's an axe to grind there for you, but you won't get an argument from me. Onzlee Ware is not the best person for the job in that district and needs to be beaten out of it.

Weldon's assessment is incorrect because there are not many inaccuracies in your statements. Tony Reed, the figurehead Democratic chairperson, was placed there to be the ventriloquist's dummy for Don Caldwell and Bill Bestpitch, but they needed him there because they threw out a Black Democratic woman chair and Tony's Black also. All of this was orchestrated by Onzlee, Don Caldwell, and that group, so your disgust is spot on.

[Independent Voter]

Stay out of Roanoke, Ben. You simply don't understand the dynamic.

The people you're supporting are enormous blowhards, and Bowers is at the top of the list.

[Marie]

Bowers ran 5th inthe race for City Council in 2006. If that's "leading" then it surely was in the wrong direction.

His victory for mayor in 2008 was over a very tired incumbent.

He's definitely no leader--just loud and lucky!

[True Religion Outlet]

I was in York at the weekend and visited York Minster. A minster is not the same thing as a cathedral, although York Minster is a cathedral as well as a minster. A minster is a church that was established during Anglo-Saxon times as a missionary teaching church, or a church attached to a monastery. A cathedral is the seat of a bishop (his seat, or throne, is called a cathedra). asdfBeverley Minster, in another pretty Yorkshire town, is not a cathedral.