Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 1, 1993 TAG: 9309010154
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: ROBERT FREIS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The AFL-CIO announced this week that it favors Rush over Democratic opponent Jim Shuler in their race to fill the 12th District seat being vacated by Joan Munford, D-Blacksburg.
Rush is one of five Republicans among 49 General Assembly aspirants being backed by the AFL-CIO, including Del. Tommy Baker, R-Radford, whose re-election bid is unopposed.
Democratic candidates traditionally fare better with the union, but Rush said he gained the endorsement "as a working person who will represent other working people well."
Rush is employed by Federal Express as a driver. He is not a member of a labor union.
"That's fine. It's strictly their opinion," said opponent Shuler of the organization's endorsement.
In Virginia, where a law protecting the right to work without union representation is fiercely guarded, candidates sometimes steer clear of the AFL-CIO.
Rush said that he filled out a questionnaire and conducted an interview with the AFL-CIO. He said he supports the right-to-work law.
"A weaker law will prohibit the growth of companies coming into Virginia. That would hurt union and nonunion businesses," he said.
Shuler said he also completed the AFL-CIO questionnaire and conducted an interview with local representatives. He said he wasn't surprised that the organization backed Rush.
"When I walked into the room, of four people there, one of the interviewers was my opponent's campaign manager. I knew I was down one vote to start out with," he said.
"What do you do in a situation like that?" he added.
Shuler also said that he is a strong supporter of Virginia's right-to-work law.
The AFL-CIO, which represents 200,000 state workers, stuck to its traditional party allegiance by endorsing Democrat Howard Packett.
Packett is vying with Republican Morgan Griffith for the House 8th District seat, which represents eastern Montgomery County.
Neither party's candidate for governor has received the AFL-CIO's backing. The organization said that it did not share enough common ground for either Republican George Allen or Democrat Mary Sue Terry to earn an endorsement.
Rush said he has not received any campaign contributions from the AFL-CIO, but would be receptive to offers.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB