Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 26, 1995 TAG: 9504260103
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RON BROWN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FINCASTLE LENGTH: Medium
But on Monday night - six months, six days and 11 hours before the polls open Nov. 7 and voters decide whether he'll receive a second term - he will sponsor an award ceremony to honor the cutest kids in Botetourt County.
Hagan said the ceremony pays tribute to the wisdom of rural jurisprudence and satisfies his desire to keep a group of kids and their parents from being disappointed.
"A deal is a deal," he said Tuesday.
Parents who had expected their children to be judged in a contest when they went for photographs in December instead ran into a scam.
Daniel Napier of Bonsack advertised the contest and promised trophies to the top 10 finishers in both the boys' and girls' categories.
Eager participants were told to come to the Best Western motel in Daleville to have pictures made to be used in the contest. Napier had an abundance of props, including cowboy hats and frilly parasols.
Hagan said Napier carefully staggered appointment times to make sure the contestants never met. They were told to come back the next week to pick out the photograph to be used in the contest.
When the parents returned, Napier told them he had good news and bad news. He said he didn't have enough children to conduct the contest. But he said he could offer the parents the photographs at a discount.
"He was a good photographer," Hagan admits.
One parent, suspecting the contest was not quite on the up and up, reported it to the Botetourt County Sheriff's Office. She also took down a poster from the hotel lobby that showed that a similar beauty contest was being advertised in North Carolina.
Napier was convicted last month in Botetourt County General District Court on false advertising charges. Judge Louis Campbell ordered him to purchase trophies and cough up $350 for gift certificates to Hagan's office so the contest could go on as planned.
Monday night, all 15 kids who signed up for the contest will be given a trophy. Three will receive cash prizes.
Hagan's office did its best to ensure a fair decision. Tuesday, Lori East, his victim-witness coordinator, called other county offices and asked employees to go to the courthouse and cast their ballot for the cutest kids.
Hagan is being coy with the results.
"The winners are in," he said. "I know the secret."
Despite what might look like rank politics to some, Hagan said the reason he'll be on stage Monday night is to hand out the awards.
Joel Branscom, his likely Republican challenger, prefers to handle the beauty contest issue with kid gloves.
"I think I better stay out of that one," Branscom said.
Hagan, meanwhile, is a little uncomfortable mixing politics and show business.
"I think it is important because someone needs to do it," he said. "It warrants a festive atmosphere and recognition of the contestants."
"I've been joking about being Bob Barker. It's really not my line."
Memo: ***CORRECTION***