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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 13, 1995                   TAG: 9509130036
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: KATHY LOAN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

CHALLENGER CALLS FOR FORUM ON ISSUES; PROSECUTOR SAYS OK|

"The voters of Montgomery County deserve a serious dialogue between the candidates. ... It is important for us both to present a vision and an agenda for how the commonwealth's attorney's office will be run," Showalter told a small gathering at a noon news conference at the county courthouse.

Keith said later Tuesday that he would be happy to participate in an organized forum, and that he wants to put his 17 years of prosecuting experience out for the public to judge.

"That's just political rhetoric from him ... That's what a challenger has to do,'' Keith said of Showalter's remarks at the news conference.

Showalter has been campaigning door-to-door to talk about his three priorities if he is elected: "tough prosecution of those who break the law; managing the office so it will operate more efficiently and effectively; and developing an educational program for our middle schools and high schools to help teach our kids about the consequences of juvenile crime."

Showalter promised more details about that program in the coming weeks. He also said he would be talking about "the serious problems of the current administration and how those things can be turned around."

Showalter, managing partner of the Radford law firm Stone, Harrison, Turk and Showalter, raised questions about how the commonwealth's attorney's office has been managed. He was particularly critical of times he said the office has been closed to the public so that work could be completed.

On June 30, he said, Keith's office was closed and calls were forwarded to the county's information desk so that indictments needed for the July 3 grand jury could be completed. He said the office's two assistant commonwealth's attorneys helped the office staff type the indictments.

"That's not the way you run a commonwealth's attorney's office," Showalter said.

Keith said that occasionally there are so many indictments that extra time is required to get them done. But, he said, his office has always had an open-door policy and been available to, and prompt with, the public.

Showalter and Keith disagree over whether the Republican candidate is raising the incumbent's health as an issue. Keith was recently out of the office for seven weeks of radiation treatment of a brain tumor for which he has twice had surgery.

"When I first began this campaign, I made it very clear that I would not raise [Keith's] health as an issue," Showalter said. "I have kept that pledge despite being constantly asked about Mr. Keith's status."

But, responding to questions about a temporary, part-time assistant prosecutor used in Keith's absence, Showalter said "having an additional prosecutor means that the job is not being done."

Keith responded: "I think this is a back door way of attacking my health; and if he wants to do that, I just wish he'd come out and do it.

"I hope that the race will stay friendly and aboveboard."

Keywords:
POLITICS