Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, August 16, 1995 TAG: 9508160119
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: LISA APPLEGATE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Sen. Madison Marye, D-Shawsville, and Del. Jim Shuler, D-Blacksburg, each accepted $1,500 from the NREA Political Action Committee at a news conference held at the Christiansburg headquarters branch of the Montgomery-Floyd Regional Library.
The PAC is under the New River Education Association, which is made up of eight local Education Association chapters. Six chapters cover Marye's 39th district; two cover Shuler's 12th district.
Marye thanked the group for "opening your hearts and your purse strings" to help with his election.
"I can tell you that we need it - I have a feeling I'm being outspent on this election," he said to a group of about 20.
As of July 18, Marye's opponent, Republican Pat Cupp had raised almost $4,000 more than Marye.
Marye said if he is re-elected for his sixth full term (he served out part John Dalton's term when Dalton became lieutenant governor) he plans to continue to fight for funding to public and higher education.
"I don't like what I'm seeing happening to education from Richmond all the way to Stone Gap," he said.
Marye was instrumental in restoring $10.3 million to Virginia Tech's Cooperative Extension service after the initial state budget made massive cuts to most universities.
Shuler, a first-time incumbent who is running against Montgomery County Board of Supervisors Chairman Larry Linkous, said he, too, was disappointed in the current administration.
"They've decided that education is not important," he said.
Shuler co-sponsored the Omnibus Education Act, which pumped in $110 million to balance out disparity between rural and developed schools and lower the pupil/teacher ratio.
PAC-chairman Mike Sowder said the association sent questionnaires to all four state candidates, then followed up with private interviews. Marye and Shuler impressed local chapter heads with their commitments to education. They were also the only ones who returned the surveys.
"We could have voted to not support anyone, but both had excellent records" on fighting for educational issues, Sowder said.
Membership to the NREA includes 2,000 teachers and other school employees.
Having that many possible supporters is more important than the financial backing, Sowder said.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB