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

DATE: THURSDAY, October 7, 1993                   TAG: 9310070257
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-4   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: LON WAGNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ROCKY MOUNT                                LENGTH: Medium

DEMOCRAT NAFF RUNS WITH TACT

On a Thursday afternoon a few weeks before Election Day, Wes Naff III is explaining his campaigning technique. But perhaps nothing shows his style better than the seat of his pants.

"I'm out telling people . . . I mean, my britches are splattered with manure now," Naff says, smiling sheepishly. "The farmer was showing me around, and it happened too quickly."

While Naff, 38, the Democratic nominee for the House of Delegates from the 9th District, was unable to avoid the spray from a manure spreader, he has so far tactfully sidestepped his Republican opponent's alleged mudslinging.

Naff has a decided advantage in the 9th District - he is the Democrat in a region that favors Democrats. Not only that, but his campaign treasurer is Franklin County Sheriff W.Q. Overton, perhaps the most respected and enduring political figure in the county.

So Naff can ignore Allen Dudley's taunts and focus on telling people about himself.

The oldest of five children, Naff grew up on a dairy farm in Franklin County. He graduated from Franklin County High School in 1973, when another Wes Naff - his father - was principal of the school.

The older Naff says his son has always been a leader but has never led in a loud, commanding manner; he thinks his position as principal may have had something to do with that.

"I guess he figured the best thing to do was adopt a low-profile approach," the father says, "and he did that through VMI."

That low profile has been a focus of Dudley's attack. "Wes and I are friends," Dudley says. "I hope we're still friends. I just don't think Wes is strong enough; and as a result, I don't think he'd be effective."

Naff's father disputes that. Despite his son's unaggressive approach, Naff says he was a leader at Virginia Military Institute and has the credentials to prove it.

Wes Naff Jr. says one of his prouder moments was when his son was elected to the honor court at VMI.

VMI seems to have been central to the formation of Naff's philosophy about politics and public service. Naff argues that the leadership training he had at VMI should put him over the top in a campaign against Dudley, because neither of the two men have legislative experience.

"I think this is a big issue in this campaign - the leadership potential between me and my opponent," Naff says. "Because neither one of us has held office, we don't have a record. The voters are taking a risk on who they'll send, and they'll need to send a leader.

"I was trained to lead people into combat."

Naff lists creating jobs and education as his two top priorities as a legislator. Both tie in with his desire to see his four children get a good education in Franklin County then have the option of returning there after college to work.

Naff knows those are long-standing - and often futile - issues in the 9th District, but he approaches them as he approaches state government: with a mix of pragmatism and idealism.

"I'm still convinced an individual can make a difference down at the General Assembly," he says. "The political process is so important to all of us, no matter what business we're in. You owe it to yourself to be involved."

Keywords:
POLITICS

by CNB