Monday, Roanoke City Councilman Alvin Nash announced his resignation from council. Nash had served for less than a year, having replaced former Councilman Alfred Dowe who resigned after allegations surfaced that he had double billed the city and commonwealth for travel expenses.
Nash’s resignation only further highlights what some would say are a troubling trend for council: an extreme amount of turnover.
I did a little research and consider this: the longest serving member of this council is Vice Mayor Sherman Lea. And that’s just 4 and a half years. Two other members have 2 and a half years. And the rest are all under a year, including the mayor. I should point out that Mayor David Bowers previously served 16 years on council, but that was 8 years ago and even he admits that a lot has changed in those intervening years.
In years served, that’s a very “youthful” council.
And it is part of the reason some council members (Bowers and Court Rosen) are telling me that Nash needs to be replaced with someone who has government experience, maybe even a former council member.
Some possible names that could be considered include: former Council Members Rupert Cutler, Bill White, Linda Wyatt, Brenda McDaniel, Bev Fitzpatrick, Bill Carder, and Bill Bestpitch. Also, former State Senator Granger MacFarlane (who ran unsuccessfully for council in 2006) could be a possible candidate. Due to policy and personality differences, I believe it is unlikely former Mayor Nelson Harris and former council member Brian Wishneff would get the appointment. Wishneff was the next top vote getter in the last council election, but his legal issues stemming from that campaign would likely doom any chance he has, along with the differences he has with his former colleagues.
Posted by Jay Warren at 10:18 PM. Filed under: main •
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