Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, October 13, 1994 TAG: 9410130032
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: BRIAN KELLEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
"I haven't absolutely made up my mind, but I'm getting an awful lot of support and I'm certainly leaning in that direction," Turk said.
If Turk does throw his hat in the ring, he will be following in the footsteps of his father, U.S. District Judge James Turk, who in 1972 resigned from the state Senate after a dozen years to join the federal bench.
A decision to run would set up a GOP nomination fight in the spring between Turk and Gary Weddle, a 33-year-old Radford and Blacksburg clothier who started seeking support in January for the 1995 campaign.
"You can never start too early, especially if there's going to be a challenge for the nomination," Weddle said Wednesday. "There's no question, it'll be a battle."
But not a nasty one, apparently. "Jimmy's a good friend of mine and I'm sure there won't be a whole lot of controversy and mudslinging," Weddle predicted.
Weddle resigned as president of the New River Valley Economic Development Alliance two weeks ago as another step toward getting ready for the Senate race.
Next year's state Senate and House of Delegates races have the potential to be political watersheds. Following on the heels of Gov. George Allen's Republican landslide last year, GOP leaders hope to win control of the Senate and make significant, historic strides in the House.
Marye, who turns 69 in December, hasn't said publicly whether he will seek a sixth term. He is visiting relatives in Germany this week and could not be reached for comment.
Until Marye won the seat in a 1973 special election to succeed the late Gov. John Dalton, the district had been held by a Republican for nearly 30 years. Redistricting has changed Marye's turf somewhat since the 1970s, but it retains many of the same core counties.
Marye is a retired Army officer and beef cattle farmer who hasn't had an opponent since 1983. His last close call was 1979, when he defeated Edwin D. Stone by just nine votes. Stone is Jimmy Turk's senior law partner.
Turk, who turns 38 later this month, is a polished, high-profile trial lawyer who is active in local Republican politics. He hosted Allen and a crowd of local Republicans Tuesday night at his second fund-raiser this political season for Steve Fast, who is challenging U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Abingdon. Turk said he's also worked for the campaign of senatorial candidate Oliver North. Weddle was at the Tuesday fund-raiser and also has helped North.
Weddle, a former Radford City Council member, unsuccessfully challenged Boucher two years ago.
Like Weddle, Turk doesn't live in the 39th Senate District, which includes Montgomery, part of Pulaski and Carroll counties and Grayson and Smyth counties. And like Weddle and his wife, Meg, Turk and his wife, Allison, are planning to build a home near Claytor Lake in the near future. Allison Turk also is expecting a child by late November or early December.
Though Turk said he "wouldn't consider myself either an official or unofficial candidate at this point," he has hired a young political operative to do legwork.
James Oliver, former president of the Radford University College Republicans, said Monday he's working for Turk. Oliver worked for the North campaign earlier this year.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB