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

DATE: THURSDAY, November 2, 1995                   TAG: 9511020103
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: KIMBERLY N. MARTIN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

ARTIS AD LIBS SHOTS AT LOCAL DEMOCRATS

The stated purpose of Republican House of Delegates hopeful Jeff Artis' news conference earlier this week was to outline his 10-point plan for education reform, but those ideas were sandwiched between barbs aimed at two local Democrats - neither of whom he's running against.

Artis, a former Patrick Henry High School in-school suspension teacher who hopes to unseat Del. Vic Thomas, D-Roanoke, first published his stance on education last year in his Black Conservative Newsletter.

In the newsletter, Artis argues that more money isn't the answer to the problems of public education. His recommendations include shifting the emphasis from athletics to academics, eliminating funding disparities by funding all schools equally regardless of tax base, and empowering schools to discipline students.

But it wasn't long before Artis strayed from his planned script to get in a dig at Roanoke Vice Mayor John Edwards, who is challenging state Sen. Brandon Bell, R-Roanoke County.

Artis charged that Edwards has been using Artis' homecrafted campaign slogan, which says he's the delegate "For the 21st Century." And he wants Edwards to pay him $50 every time he utters the phrase.

It isn't the first time he has accused Edwards of swiping the idea. At a news conference last week, Artis made similar remarks, but later said he was joking.

"Every time you see John, he's talking about the 21st century. I'm having enough problems on my own; if he's going to steal my ideas, he should pay me for them. ... He can afford it," Artis said Tuesday, quickly adding, "I say that in jest."

Campaign fund-raising reports filed Monday said Edwards had raised $124,413, whereas Artis has picked up $15,150.01 in donations.

"I'm not going to be like Chip Woodrum and cry the blues. I thought I was going to have to send him some Pampers," Artis said of Del. Clifton "Chip" Woodrum's comments in a recent newspaper about campaign fund raising. Woodrum is vying against the well-financed Newell Falkinburg to keep his seat.

"If anybody should be crying the blues, it should be me," Artis said.

Keywords:
POLITICS

by CNB