Everything Old is New Again

By Chris | May 6, 2008
Filed Under Campaigns and Elections |

Roanoke City voters signaled a new direction today by turning to a old hand, former Mayor David Bowers. Bowers won back the seat he lost to now-Senator Ralph Smith back in 2000 by defeating incumbent Nelson Harris. While Bowers was officially a Democrat the last time he held the office, this time he won by running as an Independent. The rest of the results, however, present some interesting questions for the Star City’s future.

Interestingly, the Roanoke City voters decided not to elect an independent slate to join Bowers on the City Council, instead electing the three official Democratic Party candidates, Sherman Lea, Anita Price and Court Rosen. Whether or not this split decision will do anything to repair the rift in the city’s Democratic Party remains to be seen. If it doesn’t, the 2010 elections could be a great opportunity for the Republicans to grab some seats on the Council for a change.

One party rule hasn’t served Roanoke particularly well over the past several years as more energy as been expended on inter-council squabbles than on real progress. If Roanoke is serious about expanding it’s economic base and attracting more young professionals to the City, it will take a fresh look at how business is conducted down in Big Lick.

I question whether Bowers is the person to bring such a perspective, but it is clear that the City’s voters had decided that whatever Harris was doing wasn’t working. We’ll soon find out if a familiar face can bring unfamiliar progress to Southwest Virginia.