Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Bedford County man seeks to unseat Putney
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roanoke.com/politics
A Bedford County businessman announced Tuesday he will attempt, for the second time, to unseat the longest-serving member of the state House of Delegates.
Lewis Medlin, a Democrat, will challenge Lacey Putney, I-Bedford, for the 19th District seat -- held by Putney since the Kennedy administration.
The district includes the city of Bedford and much of Bedford and Botetourt counties
In 2007, the 59-year-old Medlin ran against the 81-year-old incumbent. Putney took three of every four votes cast in that election.
"I would not do this if I did not think I had a chance to win," Medlin said Tuesday, shrugging off the suggestion that Putney is planted in the seat. "Isn't that what they said about Virgil Goode?"
Medlin said his platform will center on education and employment, health care and a reduction in the real estate tax for seniors to ease the burden of shrinking retirement packages.
He added that he expects Democrats will win the House in the upcoming election, a power shift that would make a Democrat a better representative for the district.
Medlin and his wife, Karen, live in Stewartsville and have four children. He works at E-Z Mount Bracket Co., the Montvale business he founded with his father in 1978.
Medlin also leads the Bedford County Democratic Committee and the Montvale Rescue Squad.
The Democrat planned to formally kick off his campaign Tuesday evening at the Thaxton Community Center, with an event that included live music and flatfooting.
Putney, who was first elected to the House in 1962, announced last week that he would seek another term.
-- Pete Dybdahl
Democrat will face Rockbridge Co. delegate
Two candidates have entered the race for the 24th District House of Delegates seat.
Incumbent Ben Cline, R-Rockbridge County, announced last week he will seek a fifth term. The other candidate, Democrat Jeff Price of Madison Heights, is expected to officially announce his candidacy May 8, according to campaign manager Joe Biederman.
Cline's campaign manager, Charles Kelley, said Cline's legislative accomplishments include economic infrastructure, instruction and incentives, including securing funding to maintain two community college branches in Amherst and Rockbridge counties.
Cline, 37, is married to Elizabeth Rocovich Cline, an assistant commonwealth's attorney in Rockingham County.
Price, 30, is co-owner of Virginia Lime Works, a building restoration company started by his father. He is married to Laura Walters Price, a teacher in Amherst County Public Schools. The Prices have two children, Olivia, 4, and Jackson, 2.
Cline's campaign fundraising balance at the end of 2008 was about $45,500, and he raised $10,700 more between Jan. 1 and March 31, as reported to the state board of elections.
Price's balance at the end of last year was about $1,100, and he raised about $3,000 between Jan. 1 and March 31.
The 24th District includes Rockbridge County, parts of Amherst and Augusta counties, as well as the cities of Buena Vista and Lexington.
-- Courtney Cutright
McAuliffe's TV ad hits Roanoke market today
Democrat Terry McAuliffe is the first candidate for governor to reach Southwest Virginia voters with a television ad, hitting the airwaves with a spot that promotes the "next big idea."
The 30-second ad begins running today in the Roanoke television market, two days after McAuliffe visited Roanoke with former President Bill Clinton. McAuliffe, who has raised more than $5 million for his campaign, already has launched targeted ads in the Richmond and Hampton Roads markets.
In the new ad, McAuliffe touts three campaign proposals that he says will help middle class families: development of wind energy, greater spending on pre-kindergarten education and creation of an emergency health insurance program to cover laid-off workers.
McAuliffe is battling state Sen. Creigh Deeds of Bath County and former Del. Brian Moran of Alexandria for the Democratic nomination, which will be decided in a June 9 primary. The winner will face Republican Bob McDonnell, the former attorney general, in the general election.
The three Democrats will appear in Blacksburg tonight for a debate at the Lyric Theatre on College Avenue.
-- Michael Sluss
