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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 8, 1995                   TAG: 9511080030
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A9   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: BEDFORD                                 LENGTH: Short

PROSECUTOR KRANTZ WINS ELECTION, KEEPS OFFICE

Incumbent Bedford County Commonwealth's Attorney Randy Krantz won his first election Tuesday night, easily defeating opponent Bill Wentz.

"They wanted someone with the experience and competence to do the job, but someone who was familiar with the community," said Krantz, crediting his win to grass-roots support and dedicated volunteers.

Wentz, a Bedford attorney and Vietnam War hero, said voters chose his opponent because, "People perceived he was doing a good job, which he was." Wentz will continue practicing law in Bedford.

Krantz, a Bedford County native, is well-known in the community for his years as a volunteer rescuer. He was the founding president of the county's rescue squad association and was the county's first volunteer paramedic.

Krantz joined the commonwealth's attorney's office as an assistant in 1992. He was appointed commonwealth's attorney earlier this year, succeeding Jim Updike, who became judge of Bedford County's General District Court.

Krantz is also a military prosecutor in the Virginia National Guard.

Keywords:
ELECTION

by CNB