Moore Declares Independent Candidacy

Charlotte Moore is now an independent.

Cave Spring supervisor Charlotte Moore, elected as a Democrat in an upset three years ago, is set to declare that her race for a second term starting in 2012 will be different. That’s because the first term supervisor will eschew party lines to run as an independent. She made the announcement on Thursday outside the Roanoke County Administration building.

“I don’t label myself as being a politician, but as being your voice,” said Moore in prepared remarks. “I feel that it’s imperative that we stay focused on issues.  We should make decisions based on facts and citizen input [not party lines].”

Moore said she had always “promoted and supported bipartisanship in government. I would like to go another step forward and say that I would like to promote nonpartisanship in local government. I have been involved in situations where partisan politics had created an environment so intense that people were barely speaking to each other.”

Moore, who has made environmental issues a focus of her work on the Board of Supervisors, claimed that, “sometimes issues become more confusing and complicated than they should be – due to partisan politics.”  Moore said she is weary of the political infighting that gets in the way of good government at the local level. “People are barely cordial to each other. We should be able to do the right thing no matter what side of the fence you’re on. There’s good people on both sides. It has to do with standing up for what you believe in.”

Moore will announce her intention to run again for a new term starting in 2012, and said that Republican Windsor Hills supervisor Ed Elswick also plans to announce his switch to independent status on Thursday as well. (Elswick was not available to confirm this information as of press time.)

Fellow supervisor Joe “Butch” Church was set to introduce Moore on Thursday – he was elected several times on the Republican ticket in the Catawba district but now serves as an independent. Moore would like to see the Board of Supervisors pass legislation requiring that candidates run as independents in the future, although she isn’t hopeful of that being approved, at least for now.

“[Political partisanship] shouldn’t enter into it,” said Moore, who said she would vote her conscience in local elections, not because of any party lines. “I’m so tired of the bickering and the fighting.” Moore upset Republican candidate Rodney McNeil in GOP-leaning southwest Roanoke County three years ago.

Richard Flora (Hollins) and Mike Altizer (Vinton) remain on the Board of Supervisors as Republicans. “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we [were all independent?],” said Moore, who is hopeful that Democrats will not run a candidate against her in the November 2011 election, although she has heard “rumors” the party was looking for one. Prior to making her announcement, Moore said, “we should be focused on issues and concerns [and] having citizen input. It’s imperative that we stick to issues.”

By Gene Marrano
[email protected]

Latest Articles

- Advertisement -

Latest Articles

- Advertisement -

Related Articles