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

DATE: FRIDAY, October 6, 1995                   TAG: 9510060069
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: DAN CASEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

EDWARDS AD ACCUSES BELL OF BEING A SLACKER

Here's a closer look at the charges Edwards is making - the first in a series of "ad watches" in which we analyze the claims candidates are making in their advertising:

TITLE: "Goin' Fishin'''

WHEN: Started Thursday on nine Roanoke Valley radio stations.

TEXT:

Announcer: "During four years in office, state Sen. Brandon Bell has gotten just four bills passed. Just four bills in four years.

Southern male voice: "OK, boys, got my bill written. I'm goin' fishin'.''

Announcer: "That's only one bill a year."

Southern male voice: "C'mon, dinner's at 6 - and the lobbyists are buyin'!''

Announcer: "John Edwards knows better. Because John Edwards is a hard worker - with a record of accomplishment. As Roanoke's vice-mayor, John Edwards helped create jobs with the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center. As our state senator, John Edwards will reverse Brandon Bell's efforts to cut funds from our Valley's public schools.

"And as U.S. attorney, John Edwards prosecuted the largest bank robbery in Virginia history. He's put criminals behind bars. Job creation. Quality schools. And a proven record fighting crime. "That's the Edwards record. The choice is yours: Brandon Bell..."

Southern male voice: "C'mon boys. Don't keep the lobbyists waitin'.''

Announcer: "Or a hard worker like John Edwards. John Edwards for Senate. Because our senator should work as hard as we do."

WHAT'S THE MESSAGE?: This is a classic negative ad in which Edwards tries to make Bell sound like a lazy hayseed who'd rather party with lobbyists or go fishing than tend to his duties as a senator. It attempts to draw a stark contrast between Bell's rather thin legislative record and Edwards' own work as vice mayor and former U.S. attorney for the Western District of Virginia.

Edwards also obliquely attacks Bell's early push for a voucher system under which poor students could get public money to attend private schools.

THE FACTS: Bell's record isn't all that unusual for a freshman lawmaker in a party out of power in the Richmond. There is little evidence that suggests he feeds at lobbyists' troughs any more than other legislators do. Bell has abandoned school vouchers in favor of a bill pushing charter schools - which wouldn't necessarily result in public funding cuts. And Bell, 36, says he hasn't been fishing since he was 15 years old.

Edwards, meanwhile, can hardly take credit for the mostly low-wage jobs that were created by the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center. He was appointed to council barely in time for the project's groundbreaking.

Citizen calendar

Roanoke Valley voters who don't want to watch pro football on Sunday afternoon can watch back-to-back televised debates instead.

The Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring four half-hour debates, which will air live on WBRA-TV (Channel 15). Here's the schedule:

3 p.m.: State Sen. Brandon Bell, R-Roanoke County, and Democratic challenger John Edwards.

3:30 p.m.: Del. Richard Cranwell, D-Roanoke County, and Republican challenger Trixie Averill.

4 p.m.: Del. Vic Thomas, D-Roanoke, and Republican challenger Jeff Artis.

4:30 p.m.: Del. Clifton "Chip" Woodrum, D-Roanoke, and Republican challenger Newell Falkinburg.

Allen, Beyer on the trail

Gov. George Allen will criss-cross Western Virginia today on behalf of Republican candidates.

He'll begin the morning in Marion, with an appearance on behalf of Pat Cupp, who is challenging state Sen. Madison Marye, D-Shawsville.

Then it's on to Vinton, for an 11:15 a.m. rally at the Washington Avenue headquarters of Trixie Averill, the GOP candidate challenging House Majority Leader Richard Cranwell, D-Roanoke County.

Allen will have competition: Democratic Lt. Gov. Don Beyer will be stumping for Marye today, too.

What do you think?

Are the General Assembly candidates talking about the issues you're concerned with?

Let us know so we can follow up:

PHONE: In Roanoke, 981-0100. In New River, 382-0200. Press category 7824.

FAX: 981-3346.

E-MAIL:

roatimesinfi.net

WRITE: Dwayne Yancey, The Roanoke Times, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke 24010

Please include your name, address and phone number.

Staff writer Dwayne Yancey contributed to this report.

Keywords:
POLITICS