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

DATE: FRIDAY, November 10, 1995                   TAG: 9511100051
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

AFTERMATH

Stupid pet tricks

Had he dug up a few more votes, Snoopy - a 7-year-old, overweight dachshund - would have been a sure hit on Letterman. Running for commonwealth's attorney in Amelia County, he got 222 votes - not bad for a write-in candidate. With a little help from Mike Salster, political punster and editor of the Amelia Bulletin-Monitor, Snoopy had some of the cleverest ads of the season: ``My bite is worse than my bark, and I've had my shots." "There won't be any catnaps while I'm on the job; I'll work like a dog.'' And: ``Absolutely . . . no flea bargaining!'' Snoopy's campaign was launched by his owner, Bill Paulette, because the incumbent commonwealth's attorney had no opposition. No kidding, said Paulette, in elections voters should have a choice. Meanwhile, Snoopy (``he's tan, rested, ready'') makes no bones about wanting to run again.

No urge to merge

The largest city in Virginia, fifth-largest in the United States? Voters in Bedford County and city did well to see that for the ruse it would be - a city in name only, a distinction lacking distinction except as a nostrum to ward off imaginary evils of future annexations. Another victory for Bedford Tuesday was its approval of a bond issue for library-system expansion.

Artis-try

Republican Jeff Artis, who lost 3-1 to Del. Vic Thomas in the 17th District House of Delegates race, says his first run at elective office will be his last. Republicans should try to persuade him to stay involved. Aside from being black, Artis embraces a smart, libertarian-leaning brand of Republicanism that the state party could use more of, especially to moderate the excesses of the religious right. Artis is also that rare bird among the political flock who sticks to his beliefs when they fly counter to the party line. In light of the GOP's stated desire to attract more black voters and candidates, the party might have done more to support his gutsy, albeit long-shot, campaign.

Airbrush Man

Del. Howard Copeland of Norfolk is a Democrat, but he used a photo of himself with Republican Gov. George Allen in his re-election campaign - doctored, it turned out, with two GOP legislators airbrushed out. Maybe he should've airbrushed out the governor, too: Copeland's was the only Democratic House seat that went over to the Republicans.