2012.02.29
Business Leadership Fund endorses Republican Lucas for mayor, Democrats Lea, Price and Rosen for council
Mark Lucas
Sherman Lea
Anita Price
Court Rosen
We’ve posted a story on the front page about today’s endorsements by the Business Leadership Fund.
The influential group, which is the political action committee for the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce, endorsed Mark Lucas over David Bowers for mayor, as well as incumbents Sherman Lea, Anita Price and Court Rosen.
The endorsements came with checks, too: $15,000 for Lucas and $1,000 each for the council members.
The endorsements of the incumbents was no surprise: The PAC endorsed those same three when they ran in 2008.
The endorsement of Lucas was a little more uncertain, but perhaps it shouldn’t have been — the Business Leadership Fund also endorsed candidates other than Bowers when he ran for council in 2006 and for mayor in 2008.
The group has been in existence since 1998, but it really came to prominence in 2006, when it contributed nearly $65,000 to the three independent “For the City” candidates, who subsequently swept the council elections.
You can see its past history of contributions on the Virginia Public Access Project.
What are your thoughts on the endorsements and what they could mean for the May 1 election?
– Mason Adams
My thoughts? Who are these people in the PAC? And they should also “encourage” as they say, others to run for Council. Time for some new blood. Kudos to Mr. Lucas.
Comment by Uptheriver — February 29, 2012 @ 3:10 pm
The Chamber endorsed Lea although he was investigated by the state in June 2010 after complaints that were later “substantiated” by the state investigator at a cost of over $2,000 to the taxpayer that Lea used his state vehicle 40 times to attend council functions and 63 1/2 hour (over $2,000) of state paid time Lea spent on council functions.
One has to wonder what criterion the Chamber uses for endorsements.
Comment by mj — February 29, 2012 @ 6:55 pm
the business community is at it again..Beware people of Roanoke because this group never met a tax they didnt like. Bowers has been a good mayor and gives this job 100%… Sure he might be a little flashy or have to curtail his ego from time to time but hes come a long ways in doing so..His job is a very demanding and time consuming one which he handles in such a way as to make the city look good so :run David run!!!!!!!! jh..
Comment by James Harvey — February 29, 2012 @ 10:24 pm
@2 – The Good Ole Criterion? Good point, I want to know who is on this PAC, website is extremely vague.
Comment by Uptheriver — March 1, 2012 @ 8:09 am
@4: I used the link showing how much the PAC has given out since VPAP started tracking it. You can also try the “money in” tab, which shows who’s funding it.
– Mason Adams
Comment by Mason Adams — March 1, 2012 @ 8:30 am
Ah thank you. Just needed to get a little more click happy on the page.
Comment by Uptheriver — March 1, 2012 @ 9:54 am