Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, May 14, 1993 TAG: 9305140146
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: GREG EDWARDS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Jim Shuler, a Blacksburg veterinarian, is the only announced Democratic candidate and an apparent sure-bet to receive the nomination.
Shuler has the endorsement of Del. Joan Munford, D-Blacksburg, the current 12th District delegate. Munford, who has served the district for 12 years, announced her retirement March 20.
Following the legislative meeting, Democrats in Montgomery County's District A will meet and pick a candidate for this fall's Board of Supervisor's election. Jim Moore of Blacksburg, the incumbent, has announced he plans to seek re-election.
The 12th Legislative District consists of voting Districts A, B, E, F, G and precinct 4 in District C in Montgomery County and the Eastern District of Giles County, consisting of the Eggleston, Pembroke, Newport and Hatfield precincts.
Although several Democrats expressed an interest in the House race following Munford's retirement, only the 49-year-old Shuler remains in the race.
At a news conference in April, Shuler mentioned providing jobs, improving access to education, reforming the health-care system and making government more responsive to people as some of the goals he would pursue if elected to the General Assembly.
The No. 1 priority in the New River Valley in the 1990s has to be restoring the economy and providing jobs, Shuler said. "Nothing, other than our health, is more precious to our families than having a secure job."
Government should be "responsive to the needs of its citizens and responsible in managing its resources," Shuler said.
Munford's endorsement of Shuler is not surprising considering he had worked on each of her campaigns since 1981 and for the last three elections had served as her campaign finance director.
A 1966 graduate of Virginia Tech, Shuler has lived in Montgomery County since 1973. He and his wife, Margaret, have a son, Marshall, and daughter, Laurel, both in college.
Shuler served on the Blacksburg Town Council from 1982 through 1988. He serves on the board of the Greater Blacksburg Chamber of Commerce.
If Democrats nominate him, Shuler's Republican opponent in this November's election will be Montgomery County Supervisor Nick Rush of Christiansburg. Rush won the GOP nomination last Saturday from Blacksburg businessman Patt Cupp in a close contest at Christiansburg High School.
Rush, an aggressive door-to-door campaigner, will provide a tough fight for whomever the Democrats pick as their nominee.
Saturday's Democratic mass meeting will begin a 10 a.m. in the Blacksburg High School Commons area. Doors will be closed at that time and no others will be admitted to the caucus.
Any person wishing to participate in the meeting will be asked to sign a standard pledge that he or she is a Democrat and a registered voter and will support the Democratic nominee in the general election.
Moore, who is running for the Board of Supervisors seat, describes himself as a "frugal progressive." His priorities include bringing more jobs to the county and fighting for "open-door" county government. "The public's business is the public's business," he said.
Republicans did not pick a nominee for the District A seat in Saturday's mass meeting and have directed the GOP county committee to try to find someone to run for the board seat.
Democrats will attempt to pick candidates for the District C and D seats on the board at a meeting yet to be scheduled.
Incumbent GOP board members Henry Jablonski and Joe Stewart have been re-nominated in Districts D and C.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB