
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, November 15, 1994                   TAG: 9411150079
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

WRITE-INS

VIRGIL GOODE, the state senator from Rocky Mount, proved not much of a challenge to incumbent Charles Robb in the Democratic primary this past summer. But Goode clearly has die-hard supporters in these parts who still preferred him over Robb (and Republican Oliver North and independent Marshall Coleman) in last week's U.S. Senate election.

Goode swept the write-in vote in Franklin County, getting 11 of the 12 votes cast. He also did well in Roanoke city, getting five of 12 write-in votes to surge past other noncontenders, including Roanoke Times & World-News columnist Ray Garland and Attila Hun. Goode also got one of the two write-in votes in Bedford County.

Former Del. Steve Agee, R-Salem, also did fairly well, getting one vote for the U.S. Senate in Roanoke city and four in Salem. And there was a bit of groundswell to send Roanoke Mayor David Bowers to Washington. Bowers was the choice of one voter in Roanoke city and one in Roanoke County for the U.S. House.

Among others penciled in last Tuesday:

For the Senate, former 6th District Rep. M. Caldwell Butler, Republican; Bill the Cat; Mickey Mouse; and None of the Above .

For the House, former 6th District Rep. Jim Olin, Democrat; former Gov. Linwood Holton; Virginia Tech political commentator Bob Denton; cook and wisecrackmeister Laban Johnson; John Doe; My Poodle; and Anyone Butt.

What possesses some folks to trouble themselves to go to the polls on Election Day - and then, in the privacy of the voting booth, choose to throw away their vote on someone who is not on the ballot, is not running and has absolutely no chance to win the election therein being decided?

Perhaps because the write-in option is a way to protest the names that do appear on the ballot, and also the general condition of government and politics. And the votes for some might have been an expression of wishful thinking that they run again for public office or run for a higher office.

One of these Election Days - as the result of an utterly incredible coincidence or mystical forces in the universe - perhaps we will go to the polls and actually elect that perennial write-in favorite, Donald Duck. However many might think that would be an improvement over some we elect, it would make us look awfully silly to have a quack like that as our leader.

Better, if we must throw away our votes, that we stick with Elvis, who is merely dead.

by CNB