Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, October 30, 1994 TAG: 9412240003
SECTION: HORIZON PAGE: G1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RICHARD FOSTER AND TODD JACKSON
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Party: Democrat
Residence: Nelson County
Age: 49
Occupation: Real estate developer; businessman
Political background: First elected in 1988 in a special election following the death of longtime Democrat Rep. Dan Daniel.
\ GEORGE LANDRITH
Party: Republican
Residence: Albemarle County
Age: 34
Occupation: Lawyer
Political background: Appointed to the Albemarle County School Board in 1992. This is his first try for elected office.
\ During an election year when polls are showing tough races for Democratic incumbents across the nation, L.F. Payne is fighting a double whammy.
Oliver North's popularity in the 5th District is rivaled only by President Clinton's unpopularity. If the anti-Clinton, pro-North tide is strong enough, it could sweep the relatively unknown George Landrith to victory, many political analysts say.
In a conservative district that gave a majority vote to home-schooling advocate Mike Ferris's unsuccessful 1993 bid for lieutenant governor, George Landrith is running as a self-described "George Allen" Republican. He tells voters he wants to see less "Bill and Hillary" tactics in Washington and more family values.
The national Republican Party has targeted the race as winnable, and has donated $60,000 to Landrith, the maximum amount allowable by law.
L.F. Payne, on the other hand, has been a rising star among moderate Democrats during his six years in Congress. In the most recent session, he consolidated his power base with a seat on the policy-making House Ways and Means Committee.
Payne paints himself as a moderate conservative who is willing to vote against Clinton on important issues (such as the crime bill) for the good of his district. He has pushed for protections for the textile industry and obtained funding for several major highway projects. Working with Republican Bob Goodlatte of Roanoke, Payne won House approval for $5 million to study for a proposed interstate highway from Roanoke to Greensboro, N.C., although that measure has yet to pass the Senate.
The incumbent congressman enjoys the support of several key conservative groups, most notably the National Rifle Association, along with some important tobacco and business groups.
And in the 5th, tobacco is not only a top money producer, it's a crucial campaign issue.
When many Democrats wanted to raise the cigarette tax as part of the Clinton health care plan, Payne negotiated a proposed $1.25 increase down to 45 cents. Even that increase later died in the full House.
Landrith, however, has criticized Payne for being soft on the tobacco tax and said he would have held the line at a zero increase. Payne counters that he used his influence to reduce a tax increase that seemed inevitable and could have caused great hardships for tobacco growers in the 5th.
Landrith's religion has also been brought into question surrounding the tobacco issue. The Mormon faith prevents Landrith from smoking or chewing tobacco. But he says he supports the right of others to do so. When campaign workers for Payne mentioned Landrith's religious affiliation in a telephone poll, Landrith cried foul.
Other key issues: Landrith supports term limits for those elected to Congress, Payne does not. Landrith is anti-abortion, Payne supports abortion rights. Both favor parental notification. Both are against government mandates requiring employers to provide health care. Payne, who opposed the Clinton health care plan, supports a pared-down bi-partisan health care plan that would extend insurance to people with pre-existing conditions.
\ WHAT OTHERS SAY ABOUT THE INCUMBENT
Congressional Quarterly's "Politics in America": "Payne labeled himself a 'progressive conservative' when he entered Congress and he spent his first several years in the House quietly establishing just that kind of record . . .
"Payne sits on the trade subcommittee, where he is a sentinel for foreign practices that hurt his district's textile industry . . .
"Payne effectively balances a conservative stance on defense and fiscal matters with a more liberal approach on certain high-profile social issues. He has bolstered his conservative image with voters to support using force against Iraq and by backing a constitutional ban on flag desecration.
"And his support of President Bush's vetoes of a minimum wage increase and the family and medical leave bill endeared him to the business community.
"But Payne complemented those stands with his consistent support of abortion rights and with his backing of Democrat efforts to pass a civil rights bill, important to the minorities in his district."
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB