Evening star., 1955-06-05
By SAM EASTMAN


Falls Church voters will go to
the polls June II to choose
among is candidates for seven
seats on q new City Council.
Residents also will decide be-
tween two men seeking the post
of city attorney.
Six council candidates, includ-
ing incumbent Charles c. Sey-
mour. have been indorsed by the
Independent Voters COMMITTEES
and are running as Q slate.
Since the IvC came into
power two years ago, budgets
proposed by the School Board
have been more favorably re-
|ceived than in previous admin
|istrations.. The IVC group also
has taken q firm-some say inn
|placable - stand against con-
|struction Of new apartments.
Seven other candidates headed
by incumbents Charles E. Kellogg
and w. Raymond Taylor, have
Joined forces in opposition to the
IVC standard bearers.
Gives Reasons
The opposition group says its
members have associated only
because they are campaigning
against IVC, which they con-
slider q tightly knit organiza-
ton. Mr.. Kellogg has been ac-
cused of favoring deep cuts in
proposed school budgets. He
denies this charge, saying he
wants to keep taxes down but
believes this can be done while
the city maintains q good school
system. He says he favored two
recent school-bond proposals.
Incumbents Donald G. Benn
and Herman L. Fink, along with
Louis M. Sheers, a retired Gov
ernment instrument maker, are
running on their own.
The contest for city attorney
lis between William M. Baskin,
who now holds the post, and
'LaRue Van Meter. who served
as city attorney from 1914 to
1851.
Mr.. Baskin, who has practiced
law in Falls Church since 1850,
served as a substitute judge Of
the CITY Municipal Court from
1850 until his election as city
attorney two years ago.
Lost Reelection
Mr.. Van Meter, who is in pri-
vate practice in the city, lest in
his bid for reelection in 1851.
He was defeated by Lytton H.
Gibson, who stepped aside for
Mr.. Baskin two years later.
In the council race, Mr.. Sey-
mour, retail drug store chain
executive. said the main issue
twas and still is support Of the
The first plank listed
on Ivc campaign literature is
"first-rate schools"
Mr.. Kellogg, q former mayor of
Falls Church and who is seeking
a fifth council term, commented: !:
"There is no question about it.
All Of the candidates are for the
many good things that Falls
Church needs. But the question
is how and when?'"
Supporters Of IVC were sue
cessful In 1858 in backing Mr..
Seymour. Mr.. Fink, a business
man; Grant Hilliker and Mayor
M. Eldon Colby for council seats.
Mr.. Colby is moving from the
city and Mr.. Hilliker. State
Department employe. also is not
running because he expects to
be assigned overseas.
Called Real Issue
Anti-IVC candidates contend
that supporters of this group try
to dictate the actions Of the
councilmen. The independents
state that they believe this to
be the real issue in the race.
Mr.. Kellogg, who works in the
Agriculture Departments ami
NAL husbandry and research SER
vice, declared:
"IVC doesn't mean Indepen-
dent Voters Committee. It means
inside vicious control"
Mr.. Fink, a past vice-chairman
Of the community's planning
commission, said he was run
ming as an independent because
there was an attempt to die
tate my course OF action" follow
ing q rezoning vote during the
current council term.
Another candidate in the sew
en-member independent group,
Mr.. Taylor, q lumber and mill
work company employe. summed
up the stand Of the more mod