Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, March 13, 1995 TAG: 9503130029
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DWAYNE YANCEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"I was out there beating the bushes trying to find someone, and people said, 'Why don't you do it?''' Averill says. "My phone hasn't stopped ringing for three weeks."
Averill says when she attended a March 4 fund-raising dinner for Attorney General Jim Gilmore in Richmond, word got out among Republican activists that she was considering a challenge.
"People were practically throwing money at me," Averill says. "I couldn't have done better if I'd stood out on Campbell Avenue. Legislators were offering to take the time from their own races to come into the district and spend a day a week telling horror stories about Cranwell in the legislature."
Averill, who headed Gov. George Allen's campaign in Western Virginia in 1993 and now heads the state board that runs Explore Park, says the encouragement of fellow Republicans has surprised her. "I just never perceived myself as a candidate before. I've always been one of the worker bees in the background. But, gee, if the people want one of their own, you're not going to get any more peon than me."
Why would voters turn out one of the most powerful legislators in Richmond for Averill, who works part-time as a telemarketer at Orvis? Because Cranwell is an "obstructionist" to Allen's agenda, Averill says. And besides, she'll make the case that Republicans are certain to win control of the House, and Cranwell's power will be kaput. "His power is going to be a thing of the past," she says.
The district covers much of eastern, northern and western Roanoke County, part of western Bedford County, southern Botetourt County and Craig County.
Cranwell rules out statewide office
There's been talk for about a year now that Cranwell had his sights set on statewide office, specifically the governorship. Speculation intensified during this General Assembly session, when Cranwell rallied Democrats to kill much of Gov. George Allen's agenda.
But Cranwell says he has no intention of running for statewide office, "not now or at any time in the future."
"I have absolutely no desire to run for statewide office," Cranwell said last week. "It's just not there."
Boucher for Senate? Probably not.
Don't count on Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Abingdon, running for the U.S. Senate in 1996.
Boucher said last week that, although he's still thinking about it, "the only way I'd get into the Senate race is if current circumstances change dramatically, and I don't think that's going to happen."
The name most often mentioned for the Democratic nomination to oppose U.S. John Warner - or whomever the Republicans nominate - is that of state party Chairman Mark Warner of Alexandria.
Mark Warner has his eye on '96, to be sure, but also 2000. He's one of the key investors in the group that's hoping to win a major league baseball franchise for Northern Virginia. Last week, baseball owners granted expansion teams to Tampa Bay and Phoenix to start play in 1998 and said they expected to add two more to take the field in 2000 - but didn't pick which teams they'd be.
Mark Warner's group - which was endorsed by Virginia's congressional delegation, both Democrats and Republicans - figures to be the front-runner for that race.
Marye still mulling
State Sen. Madison Marye, D-Shawsville, says he'll decide by the April 5 veto session whether to seek re-election.
"When I get out with the Democrats, we're kind of whooping it up and I'm enthusiastic," Marye says. "I'm really thinking, 'Boy, I just can't quit.' Then I get out on my farm and see all the work that needs to be done, things I've postponed for years and then I'm thinking, 'Maybe I ought to reconsider.' So I'm really and truly in the process of making up my mind."
Marye's decision is closely watched by both parties because his rural, conservative district - which stretches from Montgomery County to Smythe County - is one Republicans have long believed should be in their hands.
Keywords:
POLITICS CAMPAIGN NOTES\
by CNB