Morris hoping for write-in Danville City Council win

T. Neal Morris, Danville’s retired police chief, announced Wednesday he is seeking a seat on Danville City Council through a write-in campaign.

Morris said supporters urged him to file to be on the ballot, but he decided against it because, “I thought it would be a well-qualified group running.”

Now, however, Morris said he regrets the decision because he considers some of the candidates to be “too liberal,” and he now feels he would be a better conservative choice.

“There are people who think the candidates are too liberal, some overly liberal,” Morris said.

Morris noted that he does support Adam Tomer, who has “brought up things that are important. I have no problem with Adam; I told him he might be the only one I voted for.”

Supporters will be campaigning for him up until the election Tuesday in hopes that he will be a write-in winner, Morris said.

Morris said it bothered him to learn that one of the candidates is already considering an effort to unseat Mayor Sherman Saunders, who Morris feels is doing a good job as mayor.

“At the (Danville Ministerial Alliance) debate, John Gilstrap was asked if he would support someone else for mayor. He nodded toward (Councilman Larry) Campbell, and said ‘I was his campaign manager,’” Morris said, adding that he felt it was improper to talk about unseating the mayor before being elected.

Morris said the issue was not the “driving force” in his decision to wage a write-in campaign, but he found it “unusual” to be hearing talk from someone who has not been elected about replacing the mayor.

Gilstrap admitted he commented about having been Campbell’s campaign manager after saying no one had yet approached him for supporting a bid for mayor.

“I said, ‘I’ve not been asked or informed by anyone of any interest in the position of mayor or vice mayor,’” Gilstrap said. “I probably should have left it right there, but I didn’t, so I’ll have to live with it.”

He said he still has not been asked by any City Council member to back them for either position.

Gilstrap said he is not a liberal.

“I consider myself moderate to moderate/conservative,” he said. “I think we should look carefully at how we spend money, and spend it wisely. There’s got to be a balance between services, money and quality of life. I do not believe in spending money we don’t have.”

Some of the other candidates who are on Tuesday’s ballot were surprised to hear Morris might consider them “too liberal.”

Tomer said Morris told him he supported his campaign, and that his record of voting against the Coleman MarketPlace project, against utility rate increases and for a property tax decrease show he is anything but a liberal.

“My record shows I’m fiscally conservative,” Tomer said.

Tomer said he is unaware of any plans to unseat Saunders as mayor — and thinks it’s premature for anyone to be discussing it now.

“Frankly, people shouldn’t be talking about it,” Tomer said. “We don’t know who will win this election, and we don’t know who want it (the mayorship). I’ve been happy with Sherman as mayor and have nothing but nice things to say about him.”

Gary Miller laughed when asked if he considers himself a liberal.

“I consider myself a moderate. I guess I do some ‘liberal’ things, like helping people whose power has been turned off, and green things, like recycling,” Miller said. “On the other hand, I don’t want to raise taxes and I want to keep spending down.”

Miller said he has not heard anything about a bid for the mayor’s position, but it won’t surprise him if someone campaigns for the seat, noting that it’s normal for more than one person to campaign for the position.

Miller said he wishes Morris had decided to run sooner.

“It would have been nice if he had taken part in at least one of the many debates,” Miller said.

Alonzo Jones said he doesn’t consider himself liberal or conservative.

“I consider myself a candidate for all the people,” he said.

Jones said he has not heard of any specific plans for someone to try and unseat Saunders as mayor, but did hear Gilstrap’s comment about having a “preference” for a mayoral candidate at the debate.

The Rev. Thomas Motley said he is quite pleased with being called a liberal.

“I think liberalism is defined in the eye of the beholder,” Motley said. “It’s a person who is fair, understanding and considerate of all races and ethnic groups.”

Motley said he strongly support Saunders, who has done an “extraordinary” job as mayor.

“He has provided excellent leadership,” Motley said. “I see no reason to attempt to fix something that’s not broken.”

Motley said he welcomes Morris to the campaign.

“Anyone with 40 years of service to the city has earned the right to run for any office,” Motley said. “I wish him well.”