Pubdate: Fri, 03 Oct 2003 Source: Roanoke Times (VA) Copyright: 2003 Roanoke Times Contact: http://www.roanoke.com/roatimes/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/368 Author: Todd Jackson and Tim Thornton Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?136 (Methadone) CANDIDATE SPEAKS OUT ON DRUG CLINIC Gary Bowman became the latest political candidate Thursday to weigh in on a hotly debated proposal to open a Roanoke County methadone clinic to treat drug addicts. Bowman, an independent in the 17th District state House race, certainly has a valid interest in the issue. He lives just inside the Roanoke city limits about 200 yards from the proposed clinic site at Colonial Avenue and Ogden Road, not far from Green Valley Elementary School. Bowman, a lawyer, is part of a neighborhood group fighting the clinic. Last week, Bowman's Republican opponent, William Fralin, said he would support new state legislation to bar such facilities within a half-mile of a school. Bowman said he supports such legislation. But he said Virginia's local government system must be changed because it now fragments localities to the point where they can't properly plan for future zoning and development in areas along joint borders. The clinic might never have had the opportunity to open in Roanoke County if it and the city had planned together for development along Colonial Avenue. Bowman said a better place for the clinic would be in the city near Carilion Health System's Roanoke Memorial and Roanoke Community hospitals. Last week, Roanoke City Councilwoman Linda Wyatt, the Democrat in the 17th District race, questioned the potential of the proposed state legislation and said Fralin was exploiting a controversial issue for political gain. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin