Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, October 27, 1993 TAG: 9310270214
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LON WAGNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
There's been little mudslinging, no attempts by one candidate to link his opponent to a convicted felon, and only a few far-fetched statements about an opponent's record.
Primarily, the campaign has been carried out the old-fashioned way: candidates traveling to neighborhoods and businesses, putting in long days, shaking hands and asking for votes.
The race for this seat pits Rocky Mount banker Allen W. Dudley, the Republican, against Rocky Mount real estate company owner Wesley Naff III, the Democrat. Independent Jerry R. Johnson, who works for a building company at Smith Mountain Lake, offers an alternative to politics-as-usual with his vow to lobby for the repeal of the 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Dudley said one of the primary thrusts of his campaign has been to convince the voters that "there's definitely a difference between us." Naff, the Democrat, has campaigned on strengthening the schools and "increasing our tax base, not our tax rate."
As a Democrat in the 9th District, Naff is thought to have a natural edge in the race. To win the seat, Dudley has tried to paint Naff as a tax-and-spend Democrat. Dudley frequently points to the $18 million state lottery building as an example of what Democrats do once elected.
Dudley also is attempting, as Republican gubernatorial candidate George Allen has taken the lead in polls, to link Naff with Democratic candidate Mary Sue Terry's gun control proposals.
"There's a lot of concern about gun control in this district and whether a waiting period would be an effective deterrent to crime," Dudley said, "or if it's just another step in taking away rights."
But Naff says his stand on Terry's proposed five-day waiting period for handgun buys is no different than Dudley's - he's against it.
"While I do support her, there are some of her positions I disagree with," Naff said. "I have to ask Allen Dudley: George Allen is for the Lake Gaston pipeline; does that mean Allen Dudley is for the pipeline?"
Naff has caused Dudley problems in distinguishing the differences between the two because Naff espouses fiscal conservatism and, as a small-business owner in Franklin County, points out he is "pro-business."
"I think there are some things that can be done at the state level to help encourage businesses to put their capital at risk and create jobs," Naff said. "One major thing is to keep Virginia operating as a fiscally conservative state.
"A business would like to know there's going to be the same set of rules for the next four, five years and beyond."
As an independent, Johnson says he is having a tough time getting the media attention he needs to run a low-budget campaign.
"The trouble is, I've spent five dollars and seventy-two cents on this campaign and I'm not getting the word out," Johnson says. "I honestly believe everybody I talk to, the people who hear me, the great majority will support me."
Johnson is convinced Virginians can take control of their government only if the 17th Amendment, which provides for the popular election of U.S. senators, is repealed and the General Assembly can appoint them. Then politicians will be more in touch with the voters.
Johnson jokes that the only person who offered to donate money to his campaign was Dudley's campaign manager, who felt sorry for him. He offered Johnson $1.
"He wanted to buy me, and I'm not for sale," Johnson said. "I'm not crazy and I'm not a nut; I consider myself a radical, because I want to repeal the 17th Amendment - that's the only way we can do away with suppression by the federal government."
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB