Saturday, October 10, 2009
Campaign notebook: Roanoke Co. debate covers range of topics
Candidates for a seat on the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors articulated their positions.
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roanoke.com/politics
BENT MOUNTAIN -- Ed Elswick and Sarah Goodman, the respective Republican and Democratic candidates for the Windsor Hills seat on the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors, met for a debate Thursday night.
The event, hosted by Bent Mountain Elementary School, was sponsored by the community's Women's Club and took place before the 8th District House of Delegates candidates debate.
The hourlong exchange, moderated by WDBJ-TV's Hollani Davis, covered a range of topics, but the overriding theme was money and what to do with it.
Goodman's consistent concern was funding education; Elswick's primary interest was taxes.
"The budget assumes a 3 percent increase in assessments, which means a 3 percent increase in your tax bill," Elswick said. "You can't expect to reduce property taxes anytime soon, but I think it's a noble objective."
The submitted questions highlighted their different takes on funding for greenways.
"They're great ... for the people who live near them and use them," Elswick said and added he "did not believe that 98 percent of the people ought to pay for a facility that 2 percent of the people use."
"Basic necessities are what taxes should be used for, not extravagances."
Goodman countered, "I don't see them as extravagances, but as part of life, part of a good quality of life, which is what we want in the Roanoke Valley, and then that promotes business."
The taxes that go to local greenways, Elswick maintained, would be better used toward Explore Park, which he said is instead being proposed to be turned into a "Dollywood-like" theme park.
He said his business background would allow him to look at budgets and contracts and prioritize cost-effective measures.
"I've already started reviewing contracts, and I can tell you that there's a lot of room for improvement," he explained, adding of the job: "I'm retired and I have the time to do it."
Goodman, a former teacher and real estate agent, said she could offer negotiating skills and described herself as a good communicator who seeks compromise.
Of her drive to do the work she said, "Luckily I have a lot of energy and I'm an insomniac."
Elswick and Goodman are running for an open seat on the board.
-- Neil Harvey
State finished with complaint about Ware
The state board of elections formally closed the books on a complaint about Del. Onzlee Ware's campaign expenditures Friday, deciding to take no action after the Roanoke Democrat filed updated reports that addressed missing or incomplete information.
The dispute over Ware's campaign expenses originated with a complaint filed by Mark Powell, an aide to Ware's June Democratic primary opponent, Martin Jeffrey. Powell alleged that Ware improperly documented reimbursements to himself, failed to fully disclose payments to campaign workers and diverted campaign funds for personal use.
The elections board asked Ware to file amended reports to document reimbursements to himself and payments made to campaign workers during the primary season. The board's examination focused on reports filed April 15, June 1 and July 15. David Allen, the election board's campaign finance manager, said no further action was needed after Ware filed amended reports with the additional information. The board followed that recommendation in its Friday meeting.
Ware defeated Jeffrey in the primary and is now facing Republican Troy Bird in the general election.
The board was barred by law from addressing Powell's charge that Ware used campaign funds for personal uses. The prohibition on converting campaign funds to personal use applies only to candidates who are closing their campaign accounts and are no longer seeking election to the same office, Allen said.
-- Michael Sluss
