THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 28, 1996 TAG: 9604260208
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Rebecca A. Myers
LENGTH: Short : 36 lines
It seems City Council candidate Rafiq Zaidi has had his fill of questions from the news media about his conviction for robbery.
But if Zaidi was trying to downplay his felony conviction and the time he spent in prison, he did just the opposite at a candidate's forum Wednesday. He also blew his five-minute limit for introducing himself and talking about his campaign platform.
He began complaining that the media had contacted him about his prison record once again. He then said that this was not his first run for office and that it had been well-publicized in the past that he was a convicted felon.
He then half-shouted at the crowd of about 35 voters: If you haven't heard about this, just raise your hand. Anyone who doesn't know, raise your hand.
Everyone in the room was still.
Then quietly, J. Thomas Benn, current School Board chairman and now running for council, slipped his hand into the air.
``I just don't listen to gossip,'' he later explained.
Zaidi spent several years in federal penitentiaries after he was found guilty of robbing a bank in 1968. In 1983, his political rights were restored by then-Gov. Charles S. Robb.
Since he was released from prison, Zaidi has done community work and says he can be an example to those who are troubled. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Rafiq Zaidi
by CNB