Friction appears to be growing over Mayor Bowers' role, perks and expectations among the members of the Roanoke City Council.

From today's story:

In July, Roanoke Mayor David Bowers and a newly seated city council pledged to work together and avoid the polarized politics that had characterized previous terms. [...]

This week, Bowers walked out of a closed meeting with other council members, frustrated with what he sees as a pattern of disrespect to the mayor's office. Nearly one year into this mayoral term, tensions are evident and other council members are just as frustrated with Bowers.

What's your take on this latest development in the relationship between the mayor and city council?

Please let your readers know that there is an online petition supporting Joyce Johnson and to allow the citizens of Roanoke to be heard.  The website is www.geocities.com/savingjoyce/1.  There is a link on the site to sign the petition.  Please provide the citizens of Roanoke with this knowledge so they can have a chance to show their support.  Thanks.

This shouldn't be surprising to anyone who really knows David Bowers. Through their incessent dislike for Nelson Harris, voters decided to look backwards to someone who had had his time and was no longer relevent. Now, the chickens are coming home to roost, with people having to deal with David Bower's egomaniacal personality that doesn't do anyone any good but David Bowers.

The rest of city council will now have to deal with this one man circus for the next three years, because people couldn't look beyond their immediate hate to what they would get by voting in this disaster. Vice Mayor Lea will be smart to form a coalition to head off the chaos that's ensuing from Da Mayor, or he and the others will have to play parent to the temper tantrum child they now have on their hands. I know from my personal experience on the Democratic committee in the '90s. Now, the citizens of my hometown get to experience the playground bully keep the city's business from moving forward, in order to promote his own selfishness.