
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, May 15, 1990                   TAG: 9005150364
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B2   EDITION: BEDFORD
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: CHILHOWIE                                LENGTH: Short

SMYTH COUNTY FARMER TO CHALLENGE BOUCHER

Charles D. Counts, a 75-year-old preacher and farmer from Smyth County, said Monday he will seek the Republican nomination to oppose Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Abingdon.

District GOP officials said they may decide not to oppose Boucher, who is in his fourth term, but Counts said he will not be deterred by the cool reception.

"I'd like to run with their blessing," Counts said. "But I told them I thought I could win without their blessing."

District Republicans will meet June 12 in Wytheville to decide what to do.

Boucher got 63 percent of the vote to defeat Counts in a Virginia Senate race in 1979.

"They said I did the best against him as anybody," Counts said. "And I didn't have much money."

- Associated Press

by CNB