The Business Leadership Fund, a political action committee administered by the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce, has endorsed three candidates each in the Roanoke and Salem city council elections set for May 6.

In Roanoke, the group endorsed incumbent Mayor Nelson Harris, incumbent Councilman Sherman Lea and first-time candidate Court Rosen. All are Democratic nominees. The other Democratic nominee, first-time candidate Anita Price, was not endorsed.

In Salem, the PAC endorsed incumbent Jane Johnson and challengers Billy Jones and Lisa Garst -- all are running as independents.

The Business Leadership Fund was established in 1998 to represent business interests. It played a heavy role in the 2006 Roanoke municipal elections, backing the "For the City" ticket of Alfred Dowe, Gwen Mason and David Trinkle. According to the Virginia Public Access Project, the PAC donated $21,666 to each of those candidates, who swept the election.

PAC Chairman Michael Pace did not return phone calls Friday afternoon, but in a statement he wrote that the candidates endorsed are "independent thinkers who know that the quality of our public schools and economic growth are critical for our region's future, and their leadership will help strengthen the business climate and grow our economy."

Roanoke Valley Sierra Club announces Salem council picks

The Roanoke Valley-based chapter of the Sierra Club has endorsed three candidates in the Salem City Council race. The club endorsed the two incumbents in the race, Jane Johnson and Chris Clemens, and the third endorsement went to Lisa Garst, said Mark McClain, chairman of the Roanoke Group of the Sierra Club. The endorsement was based on a number of factors, according to a news release. Johnson and Clemens were supportive of environmentalists' recommendation to examine and reduce the city's "carbon footprint," an index of the carbon dioxide emissions that are attributable to the use of electricity and transportation fuels. Garst received the Sierra Club endorsement because her responses reflected a general support of the views of the Sierra Club, but perhaps more importantly because she demonstrated a thorough knowledge of the environmental issues involved, according to the release.

Four challengers are vying against the two incumbents for three council seats, and each of them met with Sierra Club representatives and responded to a brief questionnaire.

Upcoming campaign events:

n Roanoke City Council candidates forum, April 7 at 7 p.m., William Fleming High School; sponsored by Roanoke Branch of the NAACP, the Virginia Organizing Project and the Roanoke Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

n Salem City Council candidates forum, April 29 at 7 p.m., Andrew Lewis Middle School, sponsored by the Salem Council of PTAs. Questions to the candidates can be submitted to jfisher@salem.k12.va.us.