Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, April 1, 1995 TAG: 9504030044
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RICHARD FOSTER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The race started hot and promised a field of several candidates, but only two have announced: Doug Maynard, an investigator for the Bedford and Roanoke public defender's offices who's running as an independent; and Mike Brown, an international security consultant who hopes to snag the Republican nomination.
Others are waiting in the wings.
Most recently, Vernon Goode, a lieutenant in the Bedford County Sheriff's Office, said he's considering entering the race.
``I've had a lot of conversation about this,'' said Goode, who runs the Camp 24 jail in Moneta. ``I'm just thinking. I have got some questions to answer before I make my decision.''
A 30-year veteran of the sheriff's office, Goode is also president of the Saunders Volunteer Fire Co. and has been a member of many civic clubs and organizations, including the Smith Mountain Lake Ruritan Club.
The buzz in the county is that if Goode chooses to run, that would be a definite signal that Sheriff Carl Wells will not seek another term of office and Goode could be the front-runner.
Wells hasn't announced his intentions.
John Sublett, who's running for the Board of Supervisors this year, said, ``Vernon is a local boy ... and everybody thinks Vernon is a real nice fellow and thinks he could do the job.''
A native of Huddleston with a lot of support in the lake area, Goode may be able to pull the votes needed to win in a crowded race, Sublett said.
Sublett said he also believes that Goode would have Wells' support. But at least two sources - Sublett and a county supervisor - said Wells would probably deny support to Capt. Ronnie Laughlin, a 32-year veteran of the sheriff's office who is also pondering a run for sheriff.
Wells and Laughlin have been on the outs for years, insiders say.
Lending more credence to a run by Goode is the fact that law enforcement officers outside Bedford say Wells is telling them he won't run.
Wells opened up the possibility of a battle for sheriff last year when he waged a high-profile war with the Board of Supervisors. The dispute was over $15,000 in interest Wells accumulated from payroll funds deposited into his personal bank account.
Though not illegal at the time Wells did it, the practice has since been outlawed. Wells settled out of court for $2,000, which he paid to the county.
Candidates Maynard and Brown have said all along that they wouldn't be worried if Wells decided to run. But Maynard said if Goode runs, then he knows Wells won't.
``[Wells] has implied to me he's not going to run,'' Maynard said,``but he also reserves the right to change his mind.''
Wells hasn't said anything.
``Who knows?'' said Bedford County Supervisor Gus Saarnijoki. ``I'm not sure [Wells] knows. I've given up on [figuring out] that one. I'll know on the last filing day.''
As for Laughlin, many say his candidacy is up in the air because of a much-publicized traffic accident involving his wife.
About three weeks ago, Laughlin picked his wife up in a squad car, taking her from the scene of a one-car accident. State police, who found beer cans in the car and suspected alcohol may have been involved, ceded the investigation to the sheriff's office when they couldn't get any cooperation from Laughlin or his wife.
The sheriff's office said it wasn't investigating, because the state police should.
``If I were him, I wouldn't [run],'' Saarnijoki said. The supervisor said he thought Laughlin had ``a slight chance'' of being elected before the traffic wreck, but that depended on popular support in the county.
And he probably wouldn't have support from Wells, Saarnijoki said.
Wells is popular in Bedford County, and his endorsement could go a long way in helping a candidate.
As for Maynard and Brown, both are outsiders to the sheriff's office.
Brown, who has put down questions about his fitness and eligibility for office, holds high hopes that his candidacy as a Republican could carry him to victory. He also stands on his record as an internationally recognized consultant who started his career as a sheriff's deputy in Bedford County.
In the last three major state elections, an average 58 percent of the vote in Bedford County has gone Republican. Typically, sheriff's candidates do not run with a political party affiliation in Bedford County.
County Democrats have not said whether they will endorse a candidate.
Maynard says he's reaching voters across the county with a vigorous campaign and standing on his long record as a law enforcement officer for the Roanoke police and the FBI.
Keywords:
POLITICS
Memo: ***CORRECTION***