Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, October 26, 1995 TAG: 9510260029
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DWAYNE YANCEY AND DAN CASEY STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Not Morgan Griffith.
Instead, he says, "two or more" as-yet-unidentified contributors are funneling money through his campaign committee to put the Republican message on the air. "I checked on it and it's all appropriate," says Griffith, who is unopposed for re-election.
But the identity of the donors - whose names Griffith won't have to reveal until the next round of campaign finance reports on Monday - has become one of the minor mysteries of this election season, at least among political junkies.
It's widely assumed that one of the donors is Gov. George Allen's political action committee, the Campaign for Honest Change. But there's also talk that Newt Gingrich's group, GOPAC, may be underwriting some of the ads. "They certainly are one of the groups that might like to see this get aired," Griffith says.
But until he's forced to reveal the donors' identities, Griffith is staying mum. "I don't think it's a big deal, but I was asked to hold this tight until the next report."
He says Republicans don't want Democrats to find out until then what kind of financial resources they have available. "Timing is everything."
When pressed by a reporter, Griffith said he wanted to check with unnamed political advisers to see how much he could reveal. He called back to joke that "I was told to buck up. It'll come out at the prescribed time by statute. You'll just have to wait until then."
Why do these Republican donors, whomever they are, have to go through Griffith's campaign at all to put the spots on the air? That, at least, is no mystery - to those who understand the technicalities of political advertising.
By law, broadcast outlets must sell their advertising time to candidates at the lowest rate possible. But political parties or other political groups don't qualify for the "candidate" rate.
Putting Griffith's name and photo - albeit so tiny many viewers may miss them - on the party ad and having Griffith's campaign committee write the check allows the commercial to qualify as a "candidate."
Edwards champions road to lake
People in the Roanoke Valley need a faster way to get to Smith Mountain Lake, state Senate challenger John Edwards said on Wednesday.
Edwards, a Democrat challenging incumbent Sen. Brandon Bell, R-Roanoke County, announced that the Fifth Planning District Commission is studying four potential road upgrades that could make Smith Mountain Lake a 25-minute drive, rather than the 50 minutes it takes to get there.
The study focuses on U.S. 220 south; Hardy Road; Virginia 116 and Virginia 24. It envisions that ultimately, one of them would be upgraded into a direct link to the lake, something that doesn't exist right now.
Edwards sees shortened drive time between the lake and the city as an economic development tool Roanoke could use to attract industry.
Also, "shortening the travel time from, say, 50 minutes to 25 minutes ... would make lake recreational opportunities more accessible to our valley residents," Edwards says. "And, likewise, it would encourage lake residents to spend more time and money in our stores and enjoy the attractions of our valley."
The study was approved by the Fifth PDC last spring at Edwards' urging. A new road is a long-term project that would require state funding, he says.
Staff writer Kimberly N. Martin contributed to this report.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB