Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, July 8, 1995 TAG: 9507100055
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KIMBERLY N. MARTIN AND DWAYNE YANCEY STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
So he showed up at a community meeting Thursday where Garden City residents and city officials had gathered to discuss the neighborhood's recent flooding.
Artis, who is vying for the House of Delegates seat held by Del. Victor Thomas, D-Roanoke, didn't come empty-handed. He came armed with a letter dated July 7 addressed to voters - a copy of an unpublished letter to the editor that Artis wrote to The Roanoke Times.
In the letter's four brief paragraphs, Artis puts his finger on two hot buttons in the Southeast community - Garden City's flooding and Stonewall Jackson Junior High School's renovation. And he points the finger of blame toward city government.
The letter says that in November, Artis went to a Roanoke City Council meeting, where he told council that ``the people of Roanoke felt city government didn't give a damn about them.'' In the letter he cites the flooding of Garden City as an example of this.
It says that ``poor planning and poor land management'' are to blame for the devastation caused by the flash flooding on June 28.
As for the junior high school, he objects to the way the controversial renovation was handled. In the letter, he accuses school officials of not consulting with residents before deciding to tear down part of the historic facade.
The fact that both of these issues fall under the auspices of local, not state, government doesn't bother the former Patrick Henry High School in-school suspension teacher.
``Just because it's a local issue, it doesn't mean a state politician should keep their mouth shut,'' Artis said.
He denies that he is fishing in floodwaters for votes.
``I don't want human tragedy to transfer into votes,'' he said. The letter ``is a note showing that I understand where they're coming from. ... I am one of the good, hard-working people of Southeast. I'm on their side. I'm one of them.''
Although event organizers stopped Artis and his campaign manager from passing out the letter at Thursday's meeting, voters there will still get a copy.
Artis said he is folding the note into all of his campaign materials and every voter in Southeast Roanoke will get a copy.
Trumbo shoots for the stars
State Sen. Malfourd ``Bo'' Trumbo, R-Fincastle, may be unopposed for re-election, but he's bringing in high-flying help, nonetheless.
Friday, Trumbo held a fund-raiser in Covington with former space shuttle pilot Jon McBride as the headliner.
McBride, who lives across the state line in Lewisburg, W.Va., is a candidate for the Republican nomination for governor of the Mountain State.
``I thought it would be nice to have two governors I could talk to on a first-name basis,'' Trumbo said. ``I told [McBride] if he's elected, he'll represent almost as much of the Virginia-West Virginia line as I do.''
Trumbo's elongated district stretches from Bath County to Giles County.
So why does Trumbo need campaign money if he's unopposed? Trumbo's emerged as the Republicans' top parliamentarian in the state Senate, and he looks to enlarge his influence during the next session. Look for Trumbo to be making contributions to other Republican state senators, and prospective GOP state senators, throughout the state.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB