Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 19, 1994 TAG: 9407150017
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: F2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
But the week also set the scene for contests in each of Virginia's congressional districts - except the 6th. In that district, Republican Bob Goodlatte of Roanoke will enjoy a free ride.
No doubt he's pleased. Though he took 60 percent of the vote to win election handily in 1992, freshmen lawmakers are usually considered vulnerable if for no other reason than that they are still backbenchers. They haven't had time in two years to establish broad name recognition or much of a record on which to seek re-election. Ordinarily the opposition party will try to target one-termers before they become immovable fixtures.
Not so in Goodlatte's case. To be sure, he has the advantage of being a Republican in a district that now must be considered a Republican stronghold - even though Democrat Jim Olin, a moderate and respected businessman, held the seat for a decade before he retired in '92.
Even so, Goodlatte's party status would not have protected him from challenge had he proved a ne'er-do-well in office. He has, on the contrary, kept busy.
He kept his promise, for example, to work on economic development for the district. He was conspicuously active in pushing for transportation improvements, especially a proposed interstate connector between Roanoke and North Carolina, and for a routing of I-73 that will help regional growth.
He introduced legislation - co-sponsored by Democrat Rick Boucher, who represents the 9th District - to permit Roanoke, Salem, Buena Vista, Lexington and Radford to compete for economic-development grants from the Appalachian Regional Commission.
Goodlatte also kept his implicit promise to vote a populist conservative line. He has hewed closely to the Republican agenda in Congress. Like other GOP newcomers, he has worked on efforts to reform the way Congress works, or doesn't work.
And, just as important to his success thus far, he has shown an admirable commitment to staying in touch with the homefolks.
So why should anyone be disappointed that the Democrats could find no one willing to challenge Goodlatte?
Well, because it so happens that the citizenry is better off if all legislators, regardless of party or length of service, have to account to voters at election time.
When politicians run without opposition, it increases the danger over time that they'll become isolated from their constituencies, and more responsive to inside-the-beltway influences. Voters also are left without the kind of political debate that informs their own thinking as well their representatives'.
Of course, it wasn't Goodlatte's duty to recruit his opponent. He's just doing his job. Blame the Democrats for abdicating their responsibility to provide competition and help keep the two-party system strong.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB