Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 3, 1995 TAG: 9505030046
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: BRIAN KELLEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
And then there was one.
Pat Cupp became the sole Republican challenger to state Sen. Madison Marye, D-Shawsville, after Radford clothier Gary Weddle withdrew from the race Tuesday.
Weddle's decision came two months after another GOP would-be, Radford lawyer Jimmy Turk, dropped out. Weddle has been in the race the longest: He formed an exploratory committee 16 months ago. Cupp, a Blacksburg businessman, entered the race in late March.
The prize is the Senate seat representing Montgomery, Grayson and Smyth counties, Galax, southern Pulaski County and northern Carroll County. Marye has held it since 1973. Republicans want to unseat him in their quest to take control of the Senate.
With his wife, Meg, and Cupp and his wife, Sandy, standing behind him, Weddle said he was withdrawing "somewhat reluctantly" because of increased demands at his business, which includes shops in Radford and Blacksburg. He endorsed Cupp and called for party unity.
Weddle said he reached the decision Thursday, met with Cupp on Friday, then spent the weekend telephoning supporters before announcing it publicly.
"I physically cannot run a campaign based on what's going on in our personal lives," Weddle said. The recent departures of two key employees, plans for a major expansion in Blacksburg and the demands of building a new home in Draper have taken up his time and energy, he said.
Still, Weddle exhibited no shortage of self-confidence. "There is no doubt in my mind that if I had stayed in the race, I would win the nomination and win the general election," he said.
"He did have a chance, believe me," Cupp agreed. "That's why I was working so hard."
Weddle, 34, insisted it was not the end of a political career that began with a term on the Radford City Council and featured defeat in 1992 at the hands of Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Abingdon.
Cupp, too, expects Weddle back on the campaign trail some day. "I'm really sure this is only a pause in Gary's political career," Cupp said.
Cupp said he was focusing on the May 20 mass meeting, and hasn't yet devoted his attention to Marye.
Nevertheless, Weddle said a unified party would have the best chance. "Our best opportunity to win in November, to defeat an entrenched incumbent, is to not have a nomination fight."
Weddle said the format of the May 20 mass meeting - open to all registered voters in the Senate district - played no role in his decision. Last month, he criticized the format for diluting the voting strength of the less-populated parts of the district.
As of the end of March, Weddle had raised $5,800, spent $3,000 and had a balance of $2,800 in his campaign fund. He said Tuesday he would give back 80 percent to 90 percent of that balance to contributors in closing out his campaign.
Keywords:
POLITICS
Memo: NOTE: SHorter version ran in Metro edition.