Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, October 30, 1995 TAG: 9510300107
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RICHARD FOSTER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"Bedford County deserves and needs efficient, professional law enforcement," Saarnijoki wrote in the letter, which was printed in The Bedford Bulletin. "We do not need a 'good old boy network,' and certainly we do not want another `Ruby Ridge,' nor `Waco.'''
Brown supporters saw the letter as a clear dig at their candidate, who is retired from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. The ATF was criticized by many for its handling of the standoff in Waco, Texas, that ended in the deaths of many of cult leader David Koresh's followers. (``Ruby Ridge" referred to the standoff between white separatist Randy Weaver and FBI agents in Idaho in 1992.)
"I am real upset at this remark being made," said City Councilman Ronnie Rice, Brown's cousin and supporter. "It's a slap in the face of every law enforcement officer in the country. For any person to make that comment, let alone an elected official, it's just a bad remark to make."
Rice said Saarnijoki's comment was pointed at Brown and he believes it also may reflect the notion by some in the county that Brown has extreme right-wing tendencies because he was in the state militia and wants to form a uniformed volunteer citizens patrol if elected.
Other Brown supporters wrote follow-up editorial letters expressing their displeasure with Saarnijoki's remarks.
"While it is certainly appropriate to support a candidate, why do they find it necessary to spew forth so much venom regarding Mike Brown?" asked Linda Ewers of Lynchburg. "Perhaps they realize that Republican Mike Brown enjoys countywide support and they must do something desperate or they will be embarrassed at the polls."
Paul Giantonio of Bedford derided Saarnijoki for "throwing mud" and said that Maynard, an investigator with the Roanoke and Bedford public defender's offices, works to get criminals off the hook.
Of the letter, Saarnijoki said he wasn't necessarily referring to Mike Brown when he brought up Ruby Ridge and Waco.
"I didn't think it was that offensive. I just said we needed responsible law enforcement."
Newspaper didn't back Wentz
If you read an ad last week in the Smith Mountain Eagle or the Vinton Messenger, you may have read that Bedford County Commonwealth's Attorney candidate Bill Wentz was endorsed by The Roanoke Times.
Frankly, it was news to the newspaper's editorial page writers, as well.
"We did not endorse him and don't plan to endorse [anyone] in that race," said editorial page editor Alan Sorensen.
So, why did the ad say the newspaper did?
It turns out the confusion stemmed from an illustration that ran in the paper with profiles of Wentz and his opponent, incumbent Randy Krantz.
The illustration featured a ballot box with a red check that just happened to be centered over Wentz's picture and name. After editors received a call from voters who wanted to know if the box was an endorsement of Wentz, they changed the logo.
Endorsements in The Roanoke Times appear on the editorial page and are the decision of the newspaper's editorial board.
"I thought it was very unfortunate," Wentz said of the ad, which was written and paid for by Jack Mills, the operator of a local battered women's shelter for which Wentz does volunteer legal work.
Mills "thought that meant the paper was giving me the nod. He was very embarrassed," Wentz said.
Krantz had this to say: "I do not know if Mr. Wentz was aware of the ad claiming that he was endorsed by The Roanoke Times, but I'm sure he'll do whatever's necessary to correct the error."
Mills said he has written Krantz a letter of apology and will run corrected versions of his ad in the two newspapers in which it appeared.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB