Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, February 3, 1995 TAG: 9502030060
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: BRIAN KELLEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Linkous, chairman of the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors, launched his campaign to the applause of more than 120 supporters.
"It shows that I have good grass-roots support," Linkous said. "I want to listen to the people in this district and do what they want me to do."
A Shuler-Linkous House race could be key to the state Republican Party's goal of wresting a majority from the Democrats in the House of Delegates this fall.
In order to do so - the GOP is four seats short in the House - the party will have to win in traditionally Democratic districts.
Linkous is an auctioneer and founder with his wife, Charlotte, of the Custom Catering Center in Blacksburg. Last year he sold off another business he started, Custom Meats.
The Linkous family - including son Taylor and stepson Noah Shanks - lives in a restored, 200-year-old farmhouse built by one of his ancestors.
Blacksburg-area voters elected Linkous to the Board of Supervisors in 1991 as a Democrat, rejecting a two-term Republican. But Linkous left the party in 1993 after disagreements with national and state party stands. He later joined the GOP and played a role in last fall's congressional race by hosting several fund-raising events. His board term ends in December.
Linkous concedes it "probably was a mistake" to run as a Democrat, because he said he's always been a fiscal conservative. "I'm 41 years old and I've probably been a Democrat for two years and a Republican for 39," he chuckled.
He said he didn't foresee any difficulties with the more conservative wing of the GOP, which has been aggressive locally and statewide. "The extreme far right and I will not agree on every issue, but the principles that they stand for, I wholeheartedly agree on, the family issues and the moral type issues," Linkous said. "I think we'll align very well."
The 12th District seat, which Shuler won by defeating Montgomery Supervisor Nick Rush in 1993, has been in Democratic hands since 1981, when former Del. Joan Munford won it after the change to single-member districts. Munford retired in 1993.
Linkous presents a far more serious challenge to Shuler than did Rush, even though Shuler now has the advantage of incumbency. At least two factors are involved. First, Linkous has deep roots in the Blacksburg area.
Second, Linkous could make a strong showing in the eight Giles County and Christiansburg precincts that went Republican last time, and make enough inroads into Shuler's nine-precinct Blacksburg-area base to pose a threat.
Shuler, 51, is a Blacksburg veterinarian who ran on a strong pro-education platform in 1993. He's been sharply critical of Republican Gov. George Allen's budget- and tax-cutting proposals this year.
Shuler was tied up in floor debate and committee meetings Thursday and was unavailable for comment, his staff said.
Linkous promised to run a positive, issues-oriented campaign. He said he and Shuler are friends and had lunch recently to discuss the upcoming campaign.
No other Republican candidates have emerged.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB