ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, March 22, 1996 TAG: 9603220092
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: BEDFORD
SOURCE: RICHARD FOSTER STAFF WRITER
MEMO: ***CORRECTION***
Published correction ran on Mar. 23
A story Friday incorrectly reported that no one spoke for Del. Frank
Ruff, R-Mecklenberg County, at a Franklin County Republican mass meeting
last week. Franklin County Republican Erick Moore spoke on behalf of
Ruff, who is seeking the nomination to run for the U.S. House of
Representatives in the 5th District.
ALBEMARLE COUNTY LAWYER George Landrith is trying to establish himself as the Republican front-runner to succeed retiring Rep. L.F. Payne.
Joe Williams wants Albemarle County lawyer George Landrith to be the Republican candidate for the 5th District seat in the House of Representatives in November.
But when district Republicans gather at a convention in May to nominate a candidate for the seat held by Rep. L.F. Payne, D-Nelson County, who is retiring, Williams won't be signed up as a delegate. He made other plans for that spring weekend when he saw how much support Landrith was getting at a Republican mass meeting this week.
"It looks like George Landrith's got it sewed up," said Williams, a retired contract analyst from Bedford County.
Williams and about 120 other people sporting Landrith stickers gave the congressional hopeful a raucous standing ovation when Landrith spoke at the Bedford mass meeting Tuesday. Landrith's leading opponent for the nomination, Mecklenburg County Del. Frank Ruff, received subdued, polite applause.
And at many of the other mass meetings held so far across the district, which sprawls from Charlottesville to Danville, the story has been much the same.
In Franklin County, Republicans were on their feet at the end of Landrith's speech. Ruff didn't attend, and no one spoke for him. Campbell County businessman Ron Buchanan is also running, but, at most meetings, his support has been negligible.
In Nelson, Fluvanna and Prince Edward counties and in Martinsville, Republican leaders say straw polls of delegates show overwhelming support for Landrith.
Ruff supporter Johnny Armstrong of Bedford County said he saw only one other person wearing a Ruff sticker at the Bedford mass meeting, and that person turned out to be one of Ruff's cousins.
"I don't know what happened," said Armstrong, an electrical contractor who said he supports Ruff, a furniture store owner, "because he's a businessman. I think we have too many attorneys [in Washington] already."
As for Ruff himself, he thinks it's too early to dismiss his chances.
"Don't count on all the [Landrith] stickers meaning a whole lot," he said. "Some of these folks won't go to the convention, and some will change their minds before the convention."
Unlike convention delegates in the presidential race, Republicans who are elected delegates to the 5th District convention aren't formally pledged to any candidate - so there's no official way to tell who's winning and who's losing.
Still, it's undeniable that Landrith has energized and mobilized the same group of social conservatives who gave him 47 percent of the vote against Payne in 1994. And in a district that went for Oliver North for U.S. senator and Mike Farris for lieutenant governor, that could mean a lot.
In his speech at the Bedford meeting, Landrith recounted how Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich once told him that it had taken Gingrich himself three tries to get elected to Congress.
"Newt told me, 'Too many people have invested in you, George. If you're not ready to run again, don't waste our time.''' Landrith said. "Well, I'm not going to waste your time. This November, we're going to win."
As soon as those words came out, a voice shot out of the audience, "You didn't waste our time last time."
In Bedford, Landrith's conservative, skeptical-of-big-government approach finds a receptive audience in folk who applauded heartily after one speaker at their meeting spoke out against homosexual-themed children's books such as "Heather Has Two Mommies" and "Daddy's Roommate."
"We're poisoning our children's minds," said Tony Lundy, who was running to represent the district at the Republican national convention. "These things you hear about on TV happening out in Los Angeles, they're coming here unless we stop them."
Tom Beach of Goode, who owns a home health care supply business, said: "I'm supporting George Landrith basically because of what he stands for. I'm a conservative, and he stands for all the issues I agree with - family issues, conservative issues with the economy.
"I believe in his religious issues and his morality. ... his stands on homosexual, abortion and gun-control issues. I'm a conservative in all those planks."
Bedford roofer Bill Huff wants Pat Buchanan to be president, and supports Landrith for Congress. Landrith "keeps his word, and he seems open-minded," Huff said. "When you ask him a question, he answers it. He doesn't give you a political answer like some of those guys up there."
Vann Deas, a retired General Electric worker from Goode, said: "I supported George Landrith in the last election, and I believe in his platform. I think he can make some meaningful changes. I believe also that he's honest and that what he says, he will do, unlike some politicians."
"Doesn't look like there's much of a contest so far, does it?'' asked Rob Pauley Jr., Bedford County Republican committee chairman.
And that may be what's keeping it a civil contest, unlike the nomination battle in 1988, the last time the seat was vacant. That time, former White House aide Linda Arey and Republican state Sen. Onico Barker of Danville fought a close, bitter campaign that fragmented party leadership across the district and ultimately may have been the reason Arey lost to Payne.
Landrith barely mentioned Ruff in his campaign speech. And Ruff's rallying cry was anything but hard-edged, as he told those assembled at the mass meeting, "We're going to work hard, whether George is the candidate or I'm the candidate."
Ruff says that only a candidate from Southside Virginia - namely, him - will be able to defeat the likely Democratic nominee - Rocky Mount State Sen. Virgil Goode. And while conceding that Landrith will probably fare better in areas such as Bedford and Franklin, Ruff is looking forward to a resurgence when Republicans closer to his part of the district hold their mass meetings.
But right now, Landrith seems to be generating the most enthusiasm.
Asked what he thought about Ruff, Williams, the retired contract analyst, replied: ``'Bout the same thing I think about Dole: He's kind of drab, but I'll vote for him if he's nominated."
TAKING THE FIFTH
Here's how things stand in the race to succeed the retiring Fifth District congressman, Rep. L.F. Payne, D-Nelson County.
Republicans
Albemarle County lawyer George Landrith and Mecklenburg County Del. Frank Ruff are the main contenders.
Republicans are holding mass meetings through March to pick convention delegates.
The party will nominate a candidate at its district convention May 18 in Forest.
Democrats
Rocky Mount state Sen. Virgil Goode is unopposed for the nomination.
Democrats are holding mass meetings April 13 and 15 to pick convention delegates for both the congressional and Senate race.
The party will nominate a candidate at its district convention May 11 in Charlottesville.
Virginia Independent Party
Pittsylvania County teacher Gary Thomas hopes to run as the nominee of a new party formed by Ross Perot supporters.
The party will hold a district convention in Martinsville in May to decide whether to nominate a congressional candidate, or concentrate on the presidential race.
LENGTH: Long : 146 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) Landrith KEYWORDS: POLITICS CONGRESSby CNB