Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, June 8, 1993 TAG: 9306080341
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DWAYNE YANCEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Republicans on Monday nominated retired businessman Bud Brumitt, 63, of Botetourt County to oppose Cranwell.
Brumitt, who moved to Cloverdale from Pennsylvania two years ago after retiring from selling equipment to the solid-waste industry, acknowledged he'll face an uphill battle against the 22-year incumbent.
But Brumitt - and a bevy of Republican leaders who joined him - insisted that Cranwell is vulnerable and vowed a vigorous campaign to unseat him.
"He will have all the money but he won't spend the time campaigning I will, I assure you that," Brummit said.
Brumitt said he'll target Cranwell, a famed coalition-builder in the General Assembly, for being a high-taxer who's more concerned about legislative intrigue than the folks back home in a district that sprawls from Smith Mountain Lake to the West Virginia line.
"This district is seeking and deserves representation that concentrates on our interests instead of representation that is consumed with the tugs and pulls of Richmond and Northern Virginia interests," Brumitt said in his acceptance speech before two dozen Republicans at the Vinton library. "It has often been stated that my opponent hasn't seen a tax bill he hasn't liked. The only tax bill I'd support would be one that reduces taxes."
Several Republican leaders exhorted the party activists in attendance not to believe Cranwell is invincible. "Cranwell is not unbeatable," declared 6th Congressional District Republican Chairman Don Duncan. "I repeat, Cranwell is not unbeatable. He's got a lot of baggage."
Republicans believe Cranwell may be vulnerable for several reasons. Twice in recent years, they've seen candidates closely aligned with him - his nephew, Dean Cranwell for commonwealth's attorney in 1987, and Steve Musselwhite for Congress last year - fare poorly on Cranwell's home turf in Vinton.
They also believe Cranwell has cast votes in Richmond that might not be popular with his constituents. "He made an attempt last year to get back in the good graces of the National Rifle Association after pushing for the three-day waiting period" to purchase handguns, said state Sen. Malfourd "Bo" Trumbo, R-Fincastle. "The people in Craig and Botetourt and the more rural parts of Roanoke County are going to be reminded" of his push for the waiting period.
"That, combined with being chairman of the House Finance Committee, and his attempts for various tax measures, make him vulnerable," Trumbo said. "When you haven't had an opponent in as many years as he has, I wonder if people have had the time to sit down and think Brumitt about these issues."
Last week, when Brumitt first publicly signalled he might run, Cranwell had little to say except that he looked forward to the challenge.
Some Democrats close to Cranwell believe that Brumitt - a newcomer to the district who's starting his campaign relatively late - will prove to be only a nuisance. "Republicans may be doing this just to keep somebody busy," said Warren Campbell, a former Roanoke County Democratic chairman and key Cranwell ally.
He disputed the idea that recent voting trends suggest Cranwell is vulnerable. "The people are always going to judge each candidate on their own merit," he said.
Republicans believe Cranwell will make the mistake of ignoring Brumitt. "He's not going to get out there and beat on doors," predicted GOP leader Trixie Averill of Vinton. "He'll sit in his office and let someone else run the campaign."
But Campbell insists that won't happen. "Dick is highly energetic and very focused," Campbell says. "This man [Brumitt] will have quite a row to hoe. I think he'll be up against a real buzzsaw. Dick will get around a lot. I think it'll be a contest Dick will enjoy. Dick just loves a good contest. This will be invigorating for him."
The district covers eastern Bedford County, most of eastern, northern and western Roanoke County, southern Botetourt County and Craig County.
\ BUD BRUMITT\ REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR HOUSE OF DELEGATES\ \ Age: 63\ Occupation: Retired. Formerly owned business selling equipment to solid-waste\ industry.\ \ Residence: Cloverdale.\ \ Education: University of Cincinnati.\ \ Background: Grew up in West Virginia. Lived in Connecticut and Pennsylvania.\ \ Retired two years ago to Botetourt County.\ \ Personal: Married. Wife, Mattie Lue. Five children, five grandchildren.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB