Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, May 15, 1994 TAG: 9405150063
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: E-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WYTHEVILLE LENGTH: Medium
Fast criticized Boucher's vote for President Clinton's tax package and said the six-term incumbent is too liberal for his district.
"Together with other conservatives, we will block any further taxes on our families and businesses," Fast said. "And I can't wait to be on Capitol Hill when Bill Clinton comes to the steps of Congress with another gun control bill."
Fast said he would tell Clinton that "you and your liberal buddies have instituted a criminal justice system that is soft on crime, and you change that."
Delegates to the convention chose Pennington Gap GOP worker Gary Waddell to succeed Jerry Kilgore as GOP chairman for the district, which covers an area from Roanoke west to Lee County.
The 768 delegates responded most enthusiastically when speakers talked about abortion, gun control or religious values.
"I have an adopted daughter," said Jim Miller, former director of the Office of Management and Budget under President Reagan, "and I thank the good Lord every day that her biological mother saved her, not aborted her."
Former Marine Lt. Col. Oliver North, who has three weeks left in his battle with Miller for the Republican nomination to the U.S. Senate, also addressed the convention.
North said he has received more than $6 million from more than 140,000 individual contributors, "more than any campaign for any office in Virginia history." He said his supporters were not "fat cats" and gave an average of $29.47.
When asked afterward why that average did not equal $6 million when multiplied by 140,000, he said the contributors numbered "a lot more" than 140,000.
Former Ninth District Rep. William C. Wampler, who was defeated by Boucher 12 years ago, gave one of the seconding speeches for Fast.
Wampler drew one of the longest standing ovations of the day when he complained that people could not state their belief in religious and traditional values anymore without being "accused of being some kind of a right-wing nut."
About a third of the delegates gave Miller a standing ovation, but North brought practically the entire convention to its feet.
North, Miller and other speakers tried to link Boucher and U.S. Sen. Charles Robb, D-Va., with Clinton's health care reform proposal and particularly with the tax increases in the Clinton budget, for which the incumbents voted.
Fast was nominated by fellow Tazewell resident Ben Barringer. The other seconding speech came from Michael Farris, who lost to Don Beyer in the 1992 race for lieutenant governor.
Farris had "Fast for Congress" donor cards distributed while he gave his seconding speech. He asked delegates to give that day "the best - I don't know what else to call it - offering that has ever been taken in the Ninth District."
Fast went to college on a work scholarship and worked his way through Virginia Tech graduate school. He earned a doctorate in mathematics while supporting a family and working as a teacher and security guard.
He said one reason he is running is jobs: Many of his brightest students must leave the district to find them.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB