THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN, AND WEDDLE STILL DOESN'T GET IT

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

DATE: SATURDAY, January 2, 1993                   TAG: 9301050109
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-11   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: GARY C. HANCOCK
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium
THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN, AND WEDDLE STILL DOESN'T GET IT
I READ with faint amusement the commentary by Mr. L. Garrett Weddle that appeared in the Roanoke Times & World-News on Dec. 28, 1992. It would appear that Mr. Weddle still doesn't get it.
On Nov. 3, Mr. Weddle suffered an historic landslide defeat in his race against U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher. Garnering only 37 percent of the vote, Mr. Weddle lost each of the 23 counties and cities of the 9th District and was even repudiated in his home city of Radford.
One reason for Mr. Weddle's resounding defeat was his extensive use of negative campaigning. He continually attacked every aspect of Rep. Boucher's service without offering positive alternatives.
As a result, his candidacy was soundly rejected by an electorate looking for positive answers to the challenges Southwest Virginia faces. His renewed attack on Rep. Boucher in the newspaper this week suggests that he learned nothing from his experience.
The thrust of his charge is that Rep. Boucher does not address the problems our area faces, such as reductions in force at the Radford Arsenal caused by the end of the Cold War.
The truth is that Rep. Boucher has done everything possible to ease the burden of defense conversion for our communities:

He worked effectively with the Department of Defense to ensure that the Radford Arsenal will remain open. Of the 12 currently operating arsenals, five will close. We are fortunate that the Radford Arsenal will continue operations with approximately the same employment level that prevailed following the end of the Vietnam War.

Rep. Boucher obtained the passage of legislation that will pave the way for new work at the Radford Arsenal for private commercial purposes. He obtained the passage of legislation that creates a special task force directed to examine means of obtaining commercial work for the Radford Arsenal and appropriating $200 million for loan guarantees and other inducements for private firms to conduct operations at the seven arsenals that will remain open.
He was also successful in seeking the overturn of a Department of Labor decision that would have denied Trade Readjustment Assistance to the vast majority of arsenal workers who will become unemployed. As a result of his actions, all of the workers whose jobs will be terminated will receive the full measure of federal job-retraining funds.
Mr. Weddle suggests that Rep. Boucher has not adequately communicated these facts to the public. The fact is that Congressman Boucher has held two press conferences during the fall of this year to share with the public in the New River Valley his efforts to facilitate private commercial work for the Radford Arsenal. Hopefully these efforts will result in the rehiring of workers whose jobs will be lost in 1993.
While it is highly inappropriate for Mr. Weddle to continue his negative attacks, it is even more inappropriate for him to use, for his own personal gain, the misfortune of workers who will soon lose their jobs.
Finally, I am compelled to comment on his continued criticism of Rep. Boucher's highly successful Showcasing Southwest Virginia program.
Mr. Weddle suggests that the program has not produced solid results. In fact, more than $100 million in new investment has been committed for the 9th District as a result of Rep. Boucher's efforts and hundreds of new jobs have been created.
In the New River Valley, C & P Telephone Co., Warner-Lambert Co. and Tetra Products are operating today as a consequence of Rep. Boucher's efforts. He introduced the TRW Co. to our region, and today it is manufacturing auto parts in Smyth County.
He also persuaded the Federal Bureau of Prisons to build a new facility in Lee County. While the opening of that facility is several years away, Lee Countians are celebrating their good fortune that through Rep. Boucher's work 300 jobs will be created by the middle of the decade.
I hope that Mr. Weddle will reflect upon these comments. If he decides to continue to publicly wage his ill-fated campaign, all parties concerned will be greatly advantaged if he will respect the truth and offer positive ideas.
Continuation of his negative attacks on an honest and hard-working congressman, in whom the people of the 9th District have obviously placed their trust and confidence, does nothing to advance the debate about Southwest Virginia's future.

Gary C. Hancock is chairman of the 9th District Democratic Committee.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB