Hot button issues divide candidates for Roanoke City Council

By Jay Warren
WSLS10 Anchor
Published: April 8, 2008

On the stage of the William Fleming High School Auditorium there was more agreement than disagreement between the Roanoke City Council and mayoral candidates. They were there for a debate sponsored by the NAACP and moderated by the author of this article, Jay Warren.

The mayoral candidates agreed that the Market Building in downtown is the “jewel” of Roanoke. Currently it is a little tarnished and in need of a redo. They all said Roanoke should not sell it.

There was more debate over building a restaurant on Mill Mountain. Several candidates, like David Bowers, an independent running for mayor, said flatly, “I do not support the development up on Mill Mountain.”

Others were more nuanced in their comments, saying they would base their vote on the decision of the Fishburn family. J.B. Fishburn donated much of the land on Mill Mountain to the city with the stipulation that his heirs have a say in how it is developed. But Mayor Nelson Harris, who is running for a second term, threw an interesting curve ball into the discussion. He says Roanoke City Council does have the ultimate authority to decide what happens to the mountain, but he added, “I am not in favor of taking the Fishburn family to court. The alternative would be to look for perhaps another area on the mountain that was not a part of Fishburn’s original gift.”

Finally another issue that won’t go away is the proposed amphitheater and where to put it. Of all the candidates, only Harris said, “I’m very comfortable with the decision to have it at Reserve Ave.”

Most of the rest said putting the amphitheater on the grounds of the former Victory Stadium was the wrong decision. Some even toke it a step further.

Mayoral candidate George Sgouros said, “I would push for a revote.” David Bowers, Sherman Lea, and Brian Wishneff said much the same.