Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, October 1, 1994 TAG: 9411020037
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: STEPHEN FOSTER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
On Wednesday, Weddle, who lost a bid in 1992 for Rick Boucher's U.S. House of Representatives seat, resigned as president of the New River Valley Economic Development Alliance, citing a promise he made to the group's board of directors that he would resign if he decided to seek political office again.
And while he said Friday that he would wait until after this fall's congressional elections to make his candidacy official, his resignation left little doubt about his intentions to enter the political fray again.
"It certainly would indicate that," said Weddle, a former Radford city councilman and the owner of Garrett's Apparel for Men in Radford and Blacksburg. "I'm pretty well committed to run."
In January, Weddle set up an exploratory committee to consider a 39th Virginia Senate District run. Since then he has been working to support Steve Fast, the Republican challenger for Boucher's 9th District seat, and Oliver North, who is running neck and neck with Charles Robb for Robb's U.S. Senate position. Weddle and his wife, Meg, live in Radford but are building a home near Claytor Lake inside the 39th district.
And for months, he has been putting together lists of supporters and talking with Republican members throughout district, which includes Montgomery, Grayson, Smyth and parts of Pulaski and Carroll counties.
"The support is extremely strong," Weddle said.
Gov. Allen "needs allies in the General Assembly to get his agenda through," Weddle said. Aggressive economic development pursuits have been a mainstay of the governor's tenure, and while Weddle said he wouldn't be a rubber stamp, "I do see eye to eye on most issues with the governor."
He acknowledges that a race against Marye, a five-time senator who hasn't faced opposition in a decade, won't be easy to win. "Madison is very likeable and very popular," he said. "It will be a tough race if he decides to run again."
That isn't certain. Marye, a witty, old-timey kind of politician, suffered a heart attack in December 1992 and missed part of last year's session, and has said he'll wait until next year to decide if he'll pursue a sixth term.
Marye, who was in and out of session in Richmond, could not be reached for comment Friday.
Weddle said it didn't matter if Marye decides to run or if the Democrats field a newcomer, but he acknowledged that the incumbency advantage is a tough wall to surmount. His personal knowledge stems from the drubbing he took from Boucher, who won more than 60 percent of the vote two years ago and out-spent Weddle $518,000 to $94,000.
But Weddle said conversations with state Republican Party officials have assured him he'll have plenty of support and that money won't be a problem this time. "It'll take about $100,000 to win," he said. "This will be a race that will be extremely high on the targeting list."
Weddle, who has served for more than a year as president of the Alliance, an economic development marketing body which covers Montgomery, Giles, Pulaski and Floyd counties and Radford, said he promised its board he would resign if he ran for office to avoid involving politics in their efforts.
He'll have to "polarize" himself toward Republican efforts now, and, he said, "The Alliance shouldn't be run on political lines."
Barry Evans, a Giles County insurance agent, has been named president-elect of the body.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB