Bowers: What’s with the ribbon-cutting campaign criticism?

Roanoke voters go the polls one week from Tuesday to elect a mayor and three City Council members. We will look at all the candidates this week, starting with Democrat Mayor David Bowers, now seeking a fourth term overall. Speaking with WFIR’s Evan Jones, he cited his energy, experience and accomplishments — and he takes issue with his challenger’s reference to ribbon cuttings in campaign ads.

Bowers was first elected Mayor in 1992 and won a second term four years later. Republican Ralph Smith defeated Bowers in the 2000 election, but in 2008, Bowers ran as an Independent and himself defeated an incumbent: Democrat Nelson Harris. Bowers is running this year as the Democrat candidate. Click here for his web page.

We will present a campaign profile of Republican challenger Mark Lucas Tuesday morning.