Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, December 26, 1994 TAG: 9412270080
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Four welfare recipients profiled in the newspaper last week were concerned about the stories running during the holiday season. They worried that the stories might imply they were looking for a holiday handout. They didn't want that; they only wanted people to know about living on welfare.
But generosity flourishes during the holidays. And the welfare recipients' stories, while angering some readers, touched others.
Magic City Ford offered to repair Parvin Hosseini's 1986 Mustang. Hosseini - a native of Iran who fled to the United States five years ago to escape religious persecution - had not been able to have the car properly repaired.
Taylor Oil Co. donated toys to the children of Laurie Bane, a young woman who has been on and off welfare since she was 16.
One woman wanted to send a check and letter of encouragement to Linda Dennison, a welfare recipient who is working on her bachelor's degree at Hollins College.
``I'm not for welfare,'' said the woman, who did not want to be identified. ``But she's using it to her advantage, using it as a means to an end. I have a lot of admiration for her.''
He'll be back
George Landrith lost the 5th District congressional race to Rep. L.F. Payne this year, but now he has set his sights on 1996.
Landrith, a Republican who tried to paint the Democratic incumbent as a Clinton sympathizer, says when the president runs for office again in 1996, ``L.F. Payne will be running literally, and not just figuratively, with Bill Clinton.
``And Bill Clinton will be wildly unpopular in the 5th. It's going to be a reverse coattails effect.''
The Albemarle County lawyer announced last week that he would seek the Republican nomination to run against Payne again.
In the weeks since his loss, Landrith has been busy pulling together a political lobbying group to endorse Republican candidates for the General Assembly in 1995.
He has also been rebuilding the law practice that he placed on hold while running for Congress. And he is trying to put his loss into perspective.
``I was very confident,'' said Landrith, who lost to Payne by 5 percentage points. ``It wasn't all bravado. I really did believe I was going to win. I was very disheartened.
``But then again, if it had been closer, if I had lost by only two votes, I would've spent the next couple of months wondering which two hands at which gas station I should've shook.''
Payne keeps his seat
And speaking of L.F. Payne ... after he won the toughest battle of his political career against Landrith, he entered - and won - his toughest battle to date in the House of Representatives.
When the Republicans captured a majority in the House and Senate this year, it was a given that they would demand more seats on congressional committees.
Payne, a member of the policymaking Ways and Means Committee only since last year, was unsure he would be able to keep his seat
However, after long interparty negotiations, Payne's seat was saved. He will be the second-most junior Democrat on the committee.
``I intend to pursue trade policies that open up markets for our products and create jobs for our people,'' Payne said. ``I'll continue to work for common-sense health care reform and welfare reform. And I'll continue to oppose any efforts to levy unfair or punitive taxes on tobacco.
``I will continue to use my position as a member of the Ways and Means Committee to protect the livelihoods of the 50,000 5th District residents who work in the textile and apparel industry.''
by CNB