Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 2, 1994 TAG: 9406020077
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MARGARET EDDS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
The United Mine Workers political committee is backing incumbent U.S. Sen. Charles Robb.
Secretary of Health and Human Resources Kay Coles James has signed onto the Jim Miller-for-Senate campaign.
And Secretary of Public Safety Jerry Kilgore is backing Miller's rival for the Republican nomination, former Lt. Col. Oliver North.
So it went Wednesday as various organizations and individuals joined in a drumbeat of endorsements in the Senate race.
Goode, of rural Rocky Mount, announced at a morning news conference that 112 of Virginia's 640 constitutional officers - including sheriffs, treasurers, clerks of court, commonwealth's attorneys and commissioners of the revenue - are backing his campaign for the Democratic nomination.
The list served to highlight Goode's weakness, as well as his strength, however.
Eighty percent of the officials listed live in four congressional districts stretching across the southern half of the state. The bulk reside west of Tidewater. Only 5 percent of those listed are from three Northern Virginia districts.
Goode is "the gentleman with the most integrity in the race," said Franklin County Commonwealth's Attorney Clifford Hapgood, who joined several officials from Goode's home county at the press conference.
Among the other Western Virginia Democrats backing Goode were such prominent names in party circles as Bedford County Clerk of Court Carol Black, Bedford County Commonwealth's Attorney Jim Updike, Botetourt County Sheriff Reed Kelly, Botetourt County Commonwealth's Attorney Rob Hagan, Botetourt County Clerk of Court Tommy Moore and Giles County Commonwealth's Attorney James Hartley.
But the only constitutional officers in the Roanoke Valley to back Goode were Roanoke Sheriff Alvin Hudson and Salem Commissioner of Revenue Ronald Wright.
Meanwhile, the UMW's political arm announced that it is siding with Robb in a Democratic primary field that includes Goode, Richmond attorney Sylvia Clute and Lyndon LaRouche backer Nancy Spannaus.
"Senator Robb is the only candidate who is talking about issues that directly affect the lives of coal miners and their families," said Jackie Stump, a member of the union's executive board and a state delegate. The union represents 7,300 UMW members and their families, Stump said.
On the Republican side, a spokesman for Gov. George Allen said the governor is sticking by his pledge to remain neutral in the Senate campaign, despite endorsements by Cabinet secretaries.
Allen's personal staff is instructed to stay out of the fray, but Cabinet secretaries chart their own course, the spokesman said.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB