Jane Johnson

On July 1, the Salem City Council could set a historic first for a city in the Roanoke Valley and put a woman in the mayor's chair.

Salem has not chosen a woman as its top official during its 135 years and 22 mayors. Nor has Roanoke after 126 years and 39 mayors.

But Jane Johnson, the lone woman on Salem's five-member council, could end the streak Tuesday morning when the council chooses a successor for the outgoing mayor, Howard Packett.

Johnson confirmed Tuesday that she is seeking the job. Residents "beseeched me to step up," she said from behind the counter of her Salem jewelry shop, R.M. Johnson & Sons Jewelers.

Johnson quickly added, with a collegial tone that marks the city's politics, that she wanted only to put "Salem first."

John Givens

Vice Mayor John Givens also has expressed interest in the position, according to a statement passed along from Salem City Manager Kevin Boggess.

Givens, a home inspector with 13 years on the council, will be the senior member when the new council takes office July 1.

The Salem council selects its mayor from within its ranks; Roanoke elects its mayor by popular vote. The position is open to any Salem council member, following city guidelines.

"I'm sure it would be the desire of city council to have a unanimous decision," said Boggess, the city manager, though the council doesn't have to vote 5-0. "The magic number is three."

As vice mayor, Givens will convene the next meeting at 9 a.m. July 1, when a vote and decision are expected. The council held a closed session Monday night to discuss the issue, which is allowed under state law.

John Long, director of the Salem Museum, observed that the council has shown a preference for its senior members, judging by its last three mayors. Johnson is only the second woman to serve on the city council. Jane Hough served from 1972 to 1984.

In May, Lisa Garst was elected as the council's third woman, and will start her term July 1. Also in the May election, Johnson was elected to her second term, receiving the highest number of votes.

"It's not a power trip to be mayor of Salem," said Long, who authored "The Men Who Were Mayor," a historic booklet on the city's past leaders. "It's a job you take on out of community-mindedness."

Council members receive a yearly stipend of $12,000, with an additional $1,000 for the mayor. "Not the motivator," Johnson said of the salary bump.

While neither Salem nor Roanoke has had a woman mayor, Trudy Thaxton served as Bedford mayor in 1980. And women mayors have led area towns, including Troutville, Fincastle and New Castle.

As for Roanoke, newly elected Anita Price will be only the city's sixth woman to serve on the city council.