
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 19, 1995                   TAG: 9504190040
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-1   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: BRIAN KELLEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG                                LENGTH: Short

EX-CANDIDATE MAY NOT BE TOTALLY EX-

For a guy who dropped out of the Montgomery County commonwealth's attorney race two months ago, Joe Painter was being awfully coy Tuesday.

Painter, a Blacksburg lawyer, filed a finance report for an active campaign by Monday's deadline. It showed he had raised $600 and spent all but $36 on campaign stickers.

But on the form, Painter didn't indicate his campaign was closed.

So what gives, counselor? Are you out of the hunt for the Republican nomination? Or are you preparing for a last-minute dash to the May 20 Montgomery GOP mass meeting?

"I'll be releasing something in the next week or so," Painter replied Tuesday.

And what does that mean?

"I enjoy being cryptic," he answered. "Most lawyers do."

Painter lost to current Montgomery Commonwealth's Attorney Phil Keith in 1991.

On Jan. 13, he became Keith's first challenger for the November election. But on Feb. 22, he announced he was dropping his bid for the Republican nomination.

Less than a week later, Radford lawyer Joey Showalter said he would seek the GOP nod. But he's done little fund raising, according to finance reports. He showed just $100 in the bank as of March 31.

Keith, meanwhile, showed a zero balance in his campaign fund, as did his potential rival for the Democratic nomination, Roy Thorpe, Montgomery's county attorney. Thorpe said Friday he is planning to make an announcement soon.

Staff writer Kathy Loan contributed to this report.

Keywords:
POLITICS

by CNB