Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 28, 1992 TAG: 9203280270
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A5 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: GREG EDWARDS NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
But while Rep. Rick Boucher of Abingdon hasn't announced yet whether he will seek a sixth term this fall, he warned Montgomery County Democrats on Friday night that he was going to need their help in mounting a campaign.
Boucher recalled that in 1990, Congress did not adjourn until a week before the election and he was left with little time to campaign. He said no one should be surprised when he does announce for re-election.
At a dinner at Christiansburg Middle School, the congressman urged the Montgomery Democrats to keep things positive when they work for him.
Boucher criticized the Republicans who are fighting for the party's nomination to oppose him of waging negative campaigns. "The voters have had it with that." Voters would rather hear what you're going to do that's positive, he said.
A straw poll involving 75 of the roughly 100 people attending the dinner showed Bill Clinton has the most support among Montgomery Democrats in the presidential race. Clinton got 37 votes; Jerry Brown 13; Paul Tsongas (who has suspended his campaign) eight; local Democrat Gordon Bechanan three; Hillary Clinton (Bill's wife) one; and 13 were uncommitted.
Most of Boucher's talk was dedicated to legislation he's working on in Congress: a bill that will make it easier for all young people to get guaranteed student loans and grants; a measure that will give local governments the power to forbid the importation of out-of-state garbage; a bill that will re-regulate the cable TV industry and open it up to competition from the phone companies; and another measure that would establish a revolving loan fund to finance tourism projects in Southwest Virginia.
Legislation which passed the House on Thursday night will make it possible for all students to apply for guaranteed student loans regardless of their family's incomes, Boucher said. The bill also will remove home, farm or small business ownership from the criteria for receiving federal educational grant money, he said.
Montgomery Democrats will hold a mass meeting April 11 at Christiansburg High School to pick delegates to the 9th District convention in Marion on May 23 and the state convention in Roanoke on June 5-6.
+k politics
Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.