Saying he had the experience and the judgement needed to be the next mayor of Roanoke, City Councilman Sherman Lea Sr. joined the previously announced Dave Trinkle as a candidate for the job being vacated by David Bowers. Both Lea and Trinkle are Democrats; the party faithful will pick their standard bearer for the May election at a firehouse primary yet to be scheduled.
“We‘re doing great things [in the city],” said Lea after making an announcement at the Berglund Center. Lea talked a lot about inclusiveness – just days after Bowers had released his memo about Syrian refugees and Japanese interment during World War II. “I want to unify and bring people together,” added Lea, who said some Roanokers felt left out of all the good things going on in the city lately.
A retired employee for the Department of Corrections and a church elder, Lea said he has the best qualifications for the mayor’s position, including 20 years of service on the school board and then on City Council. “My judgement is sound, the Governor chose me to be a member of the Virginia parole board [for example]. I also have the energy and passion for people.”
Lea also weighed in on the infamous Bowers memo: “It was a bad decision. I think he needs to apologize [Bowers ultimately did]. He lost the trust of a lot of people. Buts let’s see if we can go forward.” Lea also said any damage Bowers’ remarks might have made to the attempt to land the Deschutes Brewery’s east coast location could be overcome. “Roanoke is a strong city. We can survive that.”
Gene Marrano
