Future Roanoke City Manager Becomes Flash Point in Campaign for City Council

Henri Gendreau -
Roanoke’s future leadership has become a campaign flash point as City Manager Bob Cowell leaves office next month. Council members say they want to hire a top administrator, who runs day-to-day city operations, before the year is over. FILE PHOTO BY STEPHANIE KLEIN-DAVIS FOR THE ROANOKE RAMBLER

Roanoke’s future leadership has become a campaign flash point as City Manager Bob Cowell and Councilman Luke Priddy leave office next month.

Both Democrats and Republicans running for City Council are encouraging incumbents to hold off on picking Cowell’s permanent successor until a new Council is sworn in next January.

Council members say they want to hire a top administrator, who runs day-to-day city operations, before the year is over.