Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 11, 1992 TAG: 9203110223
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: GREG EDWARDS
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Candidate Gary Weddle of Radford said fellow candidate George Bell of Blacksburg has set up the county's mass meeting to his own advantage. But Weddle, a Blacksburg native, said he expects to do well in the county, anyway.
Lew Sheckler of Radford, the third GOP candidate in the race for the nomination to oppose incumbent Democrat Rick Boucher of Abingdon, has called Bell to complain about the arrangements for the meeting. But Bell said he has not heard anything directly from Weddle.
"I think they're behind in the polls and they're fighting for their lives," Bell said of the criticism from his opponents.
The county meeting will be held March 21. The district convention is on May 23 at George Wythe High School in Wytheville. Montgomery will have the largest delegation attending the convention with 42 delegates.
Weddle questions Bell's decision to require those who want to be delegates to the district convention to file a form before the county meeting. Forms for prefiling must be given to Bell or county GOP Treasurer Wendell Hensley in person before 5 p.m. Monday or be postmarked no later than Saturday.
Bell's decision to require a $5 registration fee from those attending the Montgomery meeting also bothers Weddle.
Weddle believes Bell should have given up the chairmanship of the Montgomery County party after announcing as a congressional candidate.
Bell said he tried to give up the chairmanship of the party, but could find no one to take the job. He said a new chairman should be selected at the mass meeting, which will double as the party's organizational meeting.
Bell also said it was state party officials who had suggested that those wanting to be delegates to county mass meetings be required to prefile. Prefiling will speed up the mass meeting by allowing the qualifications of delegates to be determined before hand, Bell said.
The $5 fee was adopted at the suggestion of Roanoke County's party, which also charges a fee, Bell said. The fee will help the party pay for the costs of running the meeting, such as advertising and rent, he said.
A similar $5 fee is being charged those who attend the district convention, Bell pointed out.
Over the next two months Republicans in each of the 9th District's 19 counties and four cities will be meeting to pick delegates to the district convention.
Roanoke County's mass meeting on Thursday night will be the first. Next week they get under way in earnest with Scott County to pick delegates March 19 and Montgomery and Dickenson counties to pick on March 21.
The three announced candidates already have been busy on the road trying to line up support for the upcoming mass meetings. Sheckler was busy campaigning this week and could not be reached Tuesday for comment.
Jerry Kilgore, a Scott County lawyer, said he will make up his mind whether to get into the congressional race by this weekend.
Former 9th District Congressman William Wampler of Bristol also has been discussed as a candidate. Wampler could not be reached for comment, but his decision is expected soon.
Montgomery delegates to the state Republican convention May 29-30 in Salem also will be picked at the March 21 county mass meeting. Those delegates also must prefile before the mass meeting.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB