Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, October 28, 1995 TAG: 9510300007
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Over the past 16 years Mr. Shockley has established a reputation as a dedicated, no nonsense prosecutor.
Those of you who have been lifelong residents of the county will recall the Stephen Epperly case. Mr. Shockley was successful in obtaining the first murder conviction in our state (and one of the first in the country) without the victim's body, an eyewitness to the crime or a confession. This case made new law in the commonwealth, which lawyers throughout the state still talk about today. Even the Virginia Supreme Court has cited the Epperly case many times when deciding other cases.
In the mid-1980s, Mr. Shockley prosecuted Ronald Fain for murder. Fain's conviction was appealed and the propriety of Mr. Shockley's devastating cross-examination of the defendant was challenged. The Virginia Court of Appeals upheld the conviction and a published opinion it issued redefines the law applicable to the cross-examination of criminal defendants who only give half the story to police when first questioned.
Everett Shockley's record speaks volumes about the high standard for professionalism he brings to law enforcement and the legal profession. He has fought hard for the rights of innocent victims for 16 years. He devotes the time it takes to be thoroughly prepared every time he steps into the courtroom. He has never considered the position as a 9-to-5 job.
Above all, Mr. Shockley has aggressively waged war on drugs, drug users and drug dealers. He has done all he can to keep drugs out of the community.
You may find another commonwealth's attorney as good as Mr. Shockley, but you will never find one any better.
Douglas Schroder
Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney,
Southampton County,
Boykins
Give Shankman a chance
Mr. Shockley stated at a recent forum that we would get a change if Byron Shankman is elected commonwealth's attorney. We need a change in Pulaski County - a change that would allow people in all walks of life to be treated with dignity and respect, whatever their circumstances. No matter if a murder has occurred or if their home has been broken into. No matter how large or small the case, every case is important and that person is important and deserves the best.
With Mr. Shankman you will get the best. With Mr. Shockley you will get an assistant.
Change is a part of life and the citizens of Pulaski County should give Byron Shankman an opportunity to be that change. A chance to treat his fellow citizens with the dignity and respect they deserve and give them the best prosecuting attorney that this county has ever known.
Jenny Lawrence
Belspring
Marye does a good job; let's hang onto him
Madison Marye supported saving the Cooperative Extension Service and allowed the Montgomery County office to continue such programs as:
Educating and working with area farmers to eliminate from their farms unwanted and banned pesticides.
Conducting 12 separate agricultural education programs making available publications on food safety, emergency preparedness and yard maintenance.
Supporting our 4-H programs for youth.
Supporting the Master Gardener program for the New River Valley.
Let's hang on to Marye, he is FOR agriculture, education and the people of Southwest Virginia.
Gwen F. Ewing
Christiansburg
Carter Effler always works the extra hour
I urge Radford voters to elect Carter Effler clerk of court. He is a devoted citizen to his hometown. I have been an employee of Carter's for 16 years. In all these years, I have never received anything from Carter except his respect and friendship. He was not only the boss, but a co-worker who didn't mind doing the same job I was doing. He was always around to help solve a problem or answer questions.
Carter has always worked the extra hour or given a little more of himself than expected. He has also been a avid volunteer for many civic organizations. We owe it to our community to elect the best candidate - Carter Effler.
Judy Naff
Radford
Todd Jones has proved his loyalty
We would like to express our support for R. Todd Jones for clerk of court in Radford. He is energetic, enthusiastic and hard working. We have had the opportunity to work with Todd through our church, Grove United Methodist. He has served as a Sunday school teacher and youth counselor. The most important reason to support Todd is his educational background and knowledge of working with the court system. He wants to give to our community. He has proved his loyalty by working in many civic organizations and has worked with our city's children as a DARE officer.
Todd is what one would say a true "people person." If he is elected, the citizens of Radford will be greatly satisfied.
Jed and Dana DeHart
Radford
Phil Keith has sense of fairness, justice
As Election Day gets closer, I want to take this opportunity to give you an honest, first-hand opinion of Phil Keith, Montgomery County commonwealth's attorney. I began working with Phil 41/2 years ago as an assistant commonwealth's attorney. Most county attorneys would agree that Phil is one of the finest persons they know. He works with a sense of fairness and justice for all. He has an outstanding knowledge of criminal law. He has dedicated a good deal of his adult life toward keeping our community safe and serving the citizens of Montgomery County.
If you want someone who is honest, compassionate, knowledgeable, consistent, dependable, beyond reproach and selfless you will vote to keep Keith.
Peggy Frank
Blacksburg
Norman Dowdy will be there for you
Our father, Norman W. Dowdy, retired from the Virginia State Police for one and one reason only, to be able to run for sheriff of Pulaski County. As for him taking the job for more money, well, you evidently don't know our father very well! He decided to run is because the public, friends and coworkers contacted him to do so. This, along with his own desire to become sheriff, is his reason for running. He lost a lot of money by retiring early, to even take a chance at being a Republican candidate for Sheriff.
Does everyone believe it takes a college degree to be a good sheriff? Of course not, because 36-plus years experience working with the public as a Virginia State Trooper is well worth more than a college degree.
I know Norman Dowdy will always be there for you as your sheriff, just as he has always been there for us as our father.
Sandy Dowdy Singleton
Tammy Dowdy Yopp
Radford
Todd Jones' growth, dedication is proved
This spring, when an area resident fell into the cold murky water of the New River, who left his family, donned scuba gear and made repetitive rescue attempts? Todd Jones, and he did it for free. Who was up at 3 a.m. trying to save the possessions of his fellow citizens following our spring floods? Todd Jones, and he did it for free. When the School Board and City Council were searching for a resident to serve on the special education committee and the recreation commission, they tapped Todd Jones. And again, he did it for free.
Along with his community service, Todd has earned a master's degree from Radford University. He has acquired an extensive knowledge of the courts and works closely with the commonwealth attorney's office.
As voters, it is our responsibility to make sure that $60,000 of our hard-earned tax dollars is going to the best candidate. Simply going to work in the same office for 20 years hardly means you deserve your boss's job.
Todd Jones has proved his dedication and professional growth to the citizens of Radford. He is a visionary young man with exceptional people skills. He possesses the qualities that are needed to lead the clerk's office into the 21 century.
John Plott
Radford
Radford sheriff backs Zelda Vaughn
As Radford sheriff, I would like to urge the voters of Radford to elect Zelda Vaughn to the office of clerk of the circuit court.
I have had the privilege of working with Zelda for 20 years and know how qualified and dedicated she is for this office which she is seeking. The general public has no idea the magnitude ant diversity of duties she performs behind the scene. Zelda is a dedicated Christian and will serve the public well if she is given the opportunity to serve as the next clerk of circuit court. So join with me on Nov. 7 and vote for Zelda Vaughn.
Bobby Farmer
Radford
Shankman treats everyone fairly
I served on our Sheriff's Department for over 20 years. During that time I saw Byron Shankman try a lot of cases. He was always aggressive, tough and effective. He did everything he could for his client every time. This is the kind of lawyer our county deserves.
Many of his clients have told me about his loyalty to them. He has always treated everyone he represented equally and fairly. As a police officer, I found him to be a man of his word. I was always impressed with his knowledge of the law and his ability to get to the point.
On a personal basis, I find him to be a down-to-earth person you can talk to. He is a person who would be open to all our people.
As a former police officer I can think of no one better to be our commonwealth's attorney and I hope everyone will join me in voting for him.
Maynard Hedge
Retired deputy sheriff,
Newbern
Linkous was part of the foot-dragging
Despite repeated requests from Blacksburg citizens for increased local funding for the public schools, Larry Linkous has sided with the low-tax-increase/no-tax-increase majority on the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors. He was part of the foot-dragging by the board that delayed construction of the new elementary school in Blacksburg for at least a year. He has not been actively pushing for a quick solution to the critical overcrowding at Blacksburg Middle School.
The need for renovation of the Blacksburg Branch of the Montgomery County Public Library has been known for years. It was the efforts of the other Blacksburg area supervisors that finally got things moving while Mr. Linkous was content to sit back and stay quiet.
Are these the actions of someone who claims to be a friend of education? Can Virginia Tech really expect strong support from Mr. Linkous? Can we believe that someone who has supported less taxes and volunteer support for government-provided services won't follow the agenda of Gov. Allen? The New River Valley will be much better off by re-electing Del. Jim Shuler. He supports public education and higher education in Virginia.
Bruce Harper
Blacksburg
Party bosses won't bully Linkous
As I read Jim Marchman's letter in the Oct. 15 New River Current, I could not help but laugh. He stated that "Gov. Allen has ordered his tightly controlled legislators to toe the party line." Had he bothered to check this year's voting records, he would have noted that not one Republican delegate voted against restoring funds to Cooperative Extension. Tommy Baker, Bo Trumbo, and, yes, Morgan Griffith broke with the governor on other occasions as well.
Jim Shuler must not realize that the controls his party have placed on him are not placed on his Republican counterparts. If the Democratic Caucus takes a position, all its members must vote in accord with the caucus or face punishments such as the stripping of committee chairmanships.
Larry Linkous is an independent leader and he will not be bullied by party bosses. He will stand up for Montgomery County, Giles County, and Virginia Tech. Unlike his opponent, if Larry is placed in a situation where he must vocally fight for Tech, he will not throw down his microphone and pout like a child. He will answer the tough questions and defend the citizens of the 12th District.
Kerry Bryant
Blacksburg
by CNB