Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, October 8, 1993 TAG: 9310080235
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: KAREN BARNES STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SCRUGGS LENGTH: Medium
Allen Dudley, the Republican candidate; Jerry Johnson, running as an independent; and Democrat Wes Naff delivered brief remarks and answered questions from the audience.
Dudley pushed his pro-job agenda by calling for more attention to small-business owners. "Most of the jobs in Virginia come from small business," he said.
He also cited wasteful government spending as another of his campaign's concerns. State agencies are afraid not to spend all of their annual budget allotment for fear of having their budget reduced the following year, he said.
Johnson drew a clear line between his campaign and those of his opponents. Johnson supports a Ross-Perot-like reinvention of government.
"I'm not a dreamer," he said, "but I'll admit I'm a radical."
U.S. senators should be appointed, he said. Furthermore, states should reassert their rights under the Constitution and strip the power of regulation from the federal government, he said.
"Our solution is in CROSS - Constitutional Republic of Sovreign States," he said.
Naff said he would bring a balanced vision to the House of Delegates drawing upon his business, community and family experience. As a small-business owner, he feels the financial pressure of increased regulation, he said. "I feel it right in the pocketbook when there's regulation," he said.
The region needs a strong leader to focus attention on the rural areas of Virginia, he said. "The battle lines break down between urban and rural areas," he told the audience at The Waterfront Country Club.
Questions from the audience addressed gun control, abortion rights and other issues. All three candidates argued against more gun control. "I see no way a five-day waiting period would work," Dudley said.
"We need to control criminals," Johnson said.
Naff said he opposes the waiting period and called for heavier fines on criminals who use guns.
The candidates were split on outcome-based education. Dudley and Johnson did not favor the plan, while Naff said he thinks the public school system never left a fundamental curriculum. Johnson advocated mandatory passage of standardized tests for grade promotion.
Abortion rights momentarily reunited the candidates. Dudley and Naff favor passage of a parental notification bill, while Johnson pledged to work against Roe vs. Wade. Under his plan, abortions would be permitted only in circumstances of rape and incest or when the life of the mother is in jeopardy.
But the candidates parted ways again on a can-deposit plan. Dudley and Naff opposed the idea, encouraging recycling instead. Johnson, however, said he'd introduced similar legislation while a politician in Georgia and that a bill here would help keep the highways cleaner.
All opposed the Lake Gaston pipeline, as well as an additional state tax on cigarettes.
The three are vying to fill the seat held by Willard Finney, who will retire at the end of this term. The 9th House District covers all of Floyd County, most of Franklin County and portions of Bedford and Pittsylvania counties.
by CNB