Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 8, 1995 TAG: 9503080109
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: TODD JACKSON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ROCKY MOUNT LENGTH: Medium
But does the party want him?
Johnson - a self-proclaimed strict constructionist of the U.S. Constitution - announced his candidacy for the Rocky Mount Democrat's 20th District seat at a news conference Tuesday in front of the Franklin County Courthouse.
Not one county Republican was there to cheer him on. In fact, Johnson met the media by himself.
But that's OK with him.
``To tell you the truth, I don't expect much support'' from county party leaders, he said.
And apparently, he's not going to get it - at least not in Franklin County. The 20th District also includes all of Henry, Patrick and Floyd counties, the city of Martinsville and a slice of Carroll County.
Franklin County's most recent GOP chairman, Tom Meredith, and the man who wants to replace him, Carthan Currin, said Tuesday that they will not endorse Johnson's candidacy - even though, at this point, he looks to be the only person willing to challenge Goode.
``Based on the views Mr. Johnson has articulated, I don't think he has the understanding of the mainstream issues that he needs to be a member of the Virginia Senate,'' said Currin, who will seek the party chairmanship at a mass meeting next week.
Just what are Johnson's views?
Here are a few:
His main goal is to have the 17th Amendment to the Constitution repealed. That amendment, adopted in 1913, provides for the popular election of U.S. senators. Johnson said state legislatures should appoint senators, as they did prior to the amendment. ``States should control the federal government, and local government should control the states,'' he said.
He believes all government ``giveaway'' programs, such as welfare, should be abolished.
He supports mandatory ``slave'' sentences for convicted criminals, something he said is allowed by the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which reads in part, ``Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime, ... shall exist within the United States.''
He lobbied for a ``Constitutional Convention'' on Tuesday, an idea similar to the one our Founding Fathers held more than 200 years ago. As he sees it, the convention would be held in Richmond, and representatives selected by all 50 states would meet to produce ``drastic beneficial changes in the control and application of government.''
Johnson, 56, said he is a deeply dedicated man who stands up for his beliefs. He said his views aren't far outside the mainstream. ``I'm not crazy,'' he said.
Johnson is a members of Gideons International and said his religious beliefs and his strict interpretation of the Constitution form a powerful mix from which many can benefit.
``I believe God ordained this nation,'' he said. ``Christ makes the decisions, not some member of Congress.''
Johnson's platform isn't a revelation to many, because he's no stranger to local politics.
In 1993, he ran as an independent in the 9th District House of Delegates race won by Republican Allen Dudley.
Currin and other Republicans say Johnson, who got 3 percent of the vote, almost underminded Dudley's slim upset victory over Democrat Wes Naff.
Johnson thinks otherwise.
``I took more Naff votes,'' he said. ``The Republican Party should be happy that I was in the race.''
Johnson, who lives in Union Hall and is self-employed as an electrical contractor, spent all of $5.75 during his 1993 campaign. He knows that he would have to spend more than that to beat Goode, whose popularity is widespread in the 20th District.
``I'm going to be spending multi-thousands of my own money,'' he said.
An Atlanta native, Johnson ran as a Republican for a U.S. Senate seat in Georgia in 1974, but lost to then-Sen. Herman Talmadge. He got 38 percent of the vote with little funding.
So, when someone mentioned Tuesday that Goode is in good standing with voters, Johnson only laughed and responded:
``Nobody is unbeatable.''
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB