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Barnie Day was a Democratic delegate from Patrick County from his election in 1997 through the 2001 session. A former county administrator and business owner, he is now a banker.

By BARNIE DAY

June 17, 2002 -- Regret not that which is past; and trust not to thine own righteousness--St. Anthony (c. 250-350)

I think I know what St. Anthony would say to sitting General Assembly Republicans: if you're serious about sweeping clean the aftermath, the debris, of Vance Wilkins' implosion (and it does bring to mind the image of a high-rise succumbing to exquisitely placed dynamite charges), then give that money back.

Delegate Winsome Sears, you were the first to sense blood in the water and call for the Speaker's resignation. According to the Virginia Public Access Project, he gave you $20,000 during the last election cycle. Make your indignation complete, and believable. Give back the money you took. Give back that $20,000.

If money is the mother's milk of politics, and it is, then Vance was the cash cow. He had two organizations, the Dominion Leadership Fund, and Wilkins for Delegate. Between the two, he raised nearly a million dollars ($990,843, to be exact) the last time around. And he gave most of it to you and your friends. Give it back.

Call up your buddies and get your heads together and do the right, and righteous, thing. Fork it over.

Vance's burden has been lifted. So was his wallet.

Let's see. There is Melanie Rapp, $20,000. There is John Welch, $20,000. There is Glen Oder, $16,000. There is Tom Bolvin, $10,000. There is Tommy Wright, $10,000. There is Kathy Byron, $8000. Hey, it adds up. You want to know the total tab? You can read the details at www.VPAP.org. Vance gave you and your ilk, directly, $279,832 during the last election cycle.

Take a stand. Make a mark. Plant your milepost on the high road of politics. Give that money back. Call on your colleagues to heed that Old Testament advice found in I Corinthians, xiv, 40: Let all things be done decently, and in order.

And let's not forget all that cash Vance raised for the Republican Party, cash that was also spent on your behalf. Huff yourself up into a proper lather, call up the party apparatus (ya'll still use phones, don't you?), and demand that they give it back. It's just a few hundred thousand dollars. Chump change when what we're talking about is doing the right thing. Call em up. Make 'em give it back.

Look. I know it's a hard thing. I know it's going to be hard to scratch up that kind of jack at this late date. I know you didn't know about this masher business when you took the money. But now you do. Not knowing and taking the money is one thing, Knowing and keeping it is something else.

Remember the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King: It is never the wrong time to do the right thing. Remember Shakespeare, in Henry VI: Why, courage then!

Okay. If you want to, forget any principle foolishness. Let's be practical for a moment. How are you and your friends going to face that one in the next election? You know the drill. Direct mail. Phone banks. God help us.

Your thoughts?

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