Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, April 18, 1995 TAG: 9504180139
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DWAYNE YANCEY AND TODD JACKSON STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Roanoke engineer and lawyer Jim Lowe, who had been ``seriously considering'' a bid for the GOP nomination, said Monday he won't get into the race.
Lowe said it had ``become difficult to get everything together'' for a campaign, given his busy work schedule.
``The last straw,'' he said, ``was the squirrel we had in our house last week.''
It seems Lowe discovered a squirrel hiding in the cushions of a sofa bed ``and I spent Thursday and Friday chasing a squirrel around the house.''
Eventually, the rodent scampered out the front door, encouraged by Lowe's broom. But the creature was the final distraction, Lowe said.
Lowe also cited how Falkinburg mirrored his positions on many issues. ``Inasmuch as Dr. Falkinburg and I are in agreement on so many issues, I believe that I can best serve the party and like-minded citizens of the Roanoke Valley by stepping aside in favor of Dr. Falkinburg,'' Lowe said in a statement. ``An uncontested nomination will enable Dr. Falkinburg to concentrate his efforts not on a nomination fight, but rather on the more important battle in November.''
Whitehead steps up to face Dudley
Democrat Claude Whitehead appears to be the man who will challenge Del. Allen Dudley, R-Rocky Mount.
Because Democrats will use a primary to select candidates in that district, Whitehead was required to file voter-signed petitions by April 14.
He confirmed Monday that he met the deadline.
Whitehead, a Pittsylvania County dentist and tobacco farmer, said he plans to hold a news conference next week to make a formal declaration.
Democrats pinned their hopes on Whitehead after several possible candidates in Franklin County - which has more than half of the district's voters - decided not to challenge Dudley.
Franklin County Sheriff's Department Capt. Billy Overton, county Board of Supervisors Chairman Gus Forry, former Del. Willard Finney and county Democratic Party Chairman Eric Ferguson declined a run for the House of Delegates this year.
Whitehead, 56, is a former chairman of the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors.
He sought the Democratic nomination for the 5th District congressional seat in 1988, but lost to L.F. Payne, who went on to win the election and still holds the seat.
With majorities in the state House and Senate up for grabs this year, Democrats are hoping to unseat Dudley, who upset Wes Naff in a 1993 race decided by fewer than 200 votes.
The district covers Floyd County, most of Franklin County, part of Pittsylvania County and the Moneta precinct of Bedford County.
Bell holds 7-1 money edge
State Sen. Brandon Bell, R-Roanoke County, holds almost a 7-1 fund-raising advantage over Democratic challenger John Edwards, but Edwards says it won't last.
The campaign finance reports that most candidates had to file Monday showed that Bell has more than $69,286 on hand, while Edwards has just $10,109.
Edwards points out, however, that Bell raised most of his money last year, while Edwards only got into the race in February. ``He's been fund-raising for the past five years,'' Edwards said.
The Democrat vowed to erase Bell's fund-raising advantage in coming months.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB