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

DATE: THURSDAY, August 31, 1995                   TAG: 9508310048
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-1   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: KATHY LOAN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

`THINGS ARE MUCH BETTER,' SAYS PROSECUTOR AFTER RADIATION

He returned home last week from the Roanoke Memorial Rehabilitation Center.

"Things are much better," said Keith, who has twice undergone surgery on the tumor. He still is regaining mobility and strength with the help of a physical therapist. He needs to build up his endurance that was zapped by radiation

"I think with a little bit of her help, I'll get to where I'll need to be," Keith said Wednesday.

Keith is able to walk short distances, but he's traded the wheelchair he started using at the June mass meeting for a motorized scooter.

"It gives me freedom. I can do it myself," he said, adding that he expects that "within a very short time I'll be able to walk" more.

Keith began the radiation July 10 and had hoped to continue working throughout the treatment. But he was admitted to the hospital July 16 when the radiation caused brain swelling. He has battled the tumor since 1983.

Keith, 44, said earlier this month that he realizes he won't be able to campaign door to door as he prepares for the Nov. 7 election, where he is being challenged by Republican nominee Joey Showalter of Christiansburg. Instead, he promised a "nontraditional" campaign of mailings, billboards and radio spots. He also will attend public events. The signs and mailings are ready to go out, he said.

Keith, who turned back a challenge for the nomination at the Democratic mass meeting by defeating County Attorney Roy Thorpe with 58 percent of the vote, is stressing his experience, accomplishments and ability to do the job.

"The prognosis is that this will carry me through another term," Keith said of the treatment earlier this month. "Otherwise I would not be running."

Keith was an assistant prosecutor until 1989 when he replaced, J. Patrick Graybeal, who left the post to become a judge. Keith won election to a full term two years later.

Showalter, managing partner for the Radford law firm of Stone, Harrison, Turk and Showalter, has been campaigning door to door and has been on Ray Roberts' local talk show on WNNI (1260 AM).

Showalter is stressing three qualities he believes the county's top prosecutor must possess: good management skills, involvement with the community and the ability to be an effective litigator.