Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, September 12, 1995 TAG: 9509120039
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: KATHY LOAN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Long
Labor Day is the traditional kickoff of the campaign season.
But somebody forgot to tell that to the New River Valley politicians who have been posting signs everywhere since just after the June mass meetings.
Joey Showalter, the Republican nominee for Montgomery County commonwealth's attorney, wanted to wait until September to post his signs. But by late August, most of the other candidates for county offices had their signs out, forcing his hand.
Sheriff's candidates were the most visible of the sign contingent in the beginning, with Jerry Olinger, the Democratic candidate in Montgomery County, getting an early jump and ruling the Prices Fork-Peppers Ferry Road region.
Olinger said he couldn't get his yellow and red signs made fast enough to fill requests. He estimates he has about 75 large signs out and 1,000 smaller yard signs.
But in the last six weeks, Republican nominee Doug Marrs and independent candidate Garnett Adkins have evened things up. Adkins said he has about 92 big signs posted throughout the county and about 500 yard signs. Both Marrs and Adkins are making a strong showing in the town limits of Christiansburg, proving that more than just residents of the county care about who Montgomery's next chief law enforcement officer is.
"Signs are everywhere. ... The county is full of them," Adkins said. "I think that you'll see a lot of people come out and vote Nov. 7."
In 1991- the last time both constitutional officers and General Assembly candidates were up for election at the same time - 61 percent of the Montgomery County's 25,967 registered voters cast ballots.
The voter rolls have grown since then. By Aug. 31, the county had 29,484 registered voters, with another month of registration left.
That also means there's another month for more signs to go up and more door-to-door campaigning by the candidates.
It's a fine line to walk, says O.P. Ramsey, the other independent candidate for sheriff. People want candidates to seek them out, but also "a lot of people dread this time of year. It's like salesmen beating your door down."
Ramsey has only a smattering of large signs out this year. His colors are brown and gold - matching the uniforms deputies wear.
He says he's not sure signs are the way to go because they don't tell voters anything about the candidate's qualifications. He favors brochures that talk about his experience and his plans for the office if he's elected sheriff.
Signs only beg the questions "Who are you? Why should I vote for you?" Ramsey said.
But even if that's the case, the signs grab attention.
Adkins and Marrs are using red, white and blue on their billboards and yard signs. Marrs has two styles: one shaped like a badge and another making use of the rhyme: "Reach for the stars, vote for Marrs."
The rhyme could be a good tactic. Four years ago, Allan Burke made use of the catchy "Burke for Clerk" slogan in his successful campaign to become Montgomery County's clerk of court in a race that, like this year's sheriff's campaign, fielded four candidates.
Burke's aggressive sign campaign, and that of Ken Phipps in his successful bid to be elected sheriff in 1991, receive strong credit for this year's sign-mania.
The candidates are backing up their efforts with other techniques. Olinger already has brochures out and Marrs has a two-sided handbill. In Pulaski County, Commonwealth's Attorney Everett Shockley has been leaving an eight-panel brochure with comments from crime victims who praise his effectiveness in the courtroom.
Many candidates are going door to door.
"I especially want to get to ... some of these areas that normally the people feel like they don't count because they're in out of way places," Ramsey said.
Marrs says he has lost several pounds since he began going door to door earlier this year as he sought the Republican nomination. He continues that approach now as he seeks votes for the November election.
Sheriff's candidates say they were forced to start campaigning early when candidates for state offices - like Democrat Del. Jim Shuler and his Republican challenger Larry Linkous - began posting advertisements. Other candidates - supervisors, treasurers, and most notably commissioner of revenue candidates Democrat Nancy Miller and Republican Helen St. Clair - followed suit.
In Pulaski County, it's not uncommon to see signs supporting incumbent Sheriff Ralph Dobbins and his Republican challenger, Norman Dowdy, sharing the same piece of real estate.
In Radford, there's a three-way race to replace retiring Clerk of Court J.D. Harman. Republican nominee Todd Jones, Democratic nominee Zelda Vaughn and Independent Carter Effler were all at last weekend's Septemberfest to court voters with bumper stickers,, balloons, drink cups, literature, iced tea, candy and gum.
Expect to see Montgomery County candidates at this weekend's Wilderness Trail Days festival in Christiansburg.
Campaign appearances - in front of groups such as Rotary and Ruritan Clubs - are beginning to dot the candidates' schedules. Fund-raisers also are starting.
Earlier this month, a $25-per-person fund-raiser at the University Club for Showalter drew about 130 people. This past weekend, Olinger said he raised about $1,100 at a pig roast held at Nellie's Cave Park.
The real payoff will have to wait until November, when candidates finally will see whether their mixed bag of efforts translates into good numbers at the polls.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB