Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, September 16, 1995 TAG: 9509180044
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: BRIAN KELLEY AND KATHY LOAN STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
For the first time this year, Shuler pulled far ahead of his Republican challenger, Larry Linkous, in both money raised and cash on hand, according to campaign finance reports filed Friday. Political action committees, which typically donate heavily to incumbents, were key to Shuler's burgeoning war chest, accounting for nearly 20 percent of the amount raised over two months.
Shuler, a veterinarian and first-term House member, raised $47,111 between July 1 and Aug. 31, the final reporting period before the Nov. 7 election. That put his campaign total at $68,129, with $25,881 left in the bank.
Linkous, an auctioneer, raised just $12,114 in the same period for a total of $34,645. He has spent $24,619 and has $10,026 in the bank.
The reports show Shuler outpacing Linkous in nearly every aspect of political fund raising. Shuler, for instance, reported 349 contributions - including 59 over $100 - in July and August, compared with 59 total for Linkous. But the reports don't reflect a successful Sept. 9 fund-raising auction that Linkous used to raise several thousand dollars.
Money to pay staff, buy advertisements and cover other expenses is the lifeblood of almost any political campaign, but particularly so in this year's high stakes General Assembly races, which could result in a historic power shift if Republicans wrest control from the Democratic Party.
Both Linkous and Shuler reported large donations from groups associated with their respective parties. Linkous showed a $2,000 donation from Virginians for a Republican Majority, a fund-raising group headed by T. Coleman Andrews, a Northern Virginian who is planning a run for lieutenant governor in 1997. Shuler indicated receipt of $2,686 from the Commonwealth Victory Fund.
But it was Shuler who raked in the dollars from PACs. His largest PAC donation was $1,500 from the Virginia Education Association PAC, but he had 17 other PAC contributions for a total of $8,488.
Meanwhile, reports show Democratic candidates in the closely watched races for Montgomery County sheriff and commonwealth's attorney far ahead of their Republican opponents in terms of money left to spend.
Democratic sheriff's candidate Jerry Olinger reported raising $3,158 in July and August with $4,093 left unspent. Republican Doug Marrs showed $3,141 raised in the same period. He had $786 in the bank. Olinger's balance reflected an outstanding loan to his campaign received earlier in the summer.
Independent candidate Garnett Adkins received $700 in donations and had $730 left. A second independent candidate, O.P. Ramsey, received $554 in donations and $1,300 in loans. He had $214 left on Aug. 31.
In the commonwealth's attorney's race, incumbent Democrat Phil Keith had no donations but lent his campaign $9,500. Keith also lent himself money earlier in the summer. He reported $2,974 left to spend.
Joey Showalter, the Republican challenger, received $4,225 in donations from 54 contributors, including seven who gave more than $100 each. He had $613 in the bank after campaign expenses.
Keywords:
POLITICS
Memo: ***CORRECTION***