"Fifth District Rep. Virgil H. Goode Jr., R-Rocky Mount, reminded more than 200 Republicans in Charlottesville on Saturday that he stands behind President Bush’s tax cuts.

Goode voted last week for making permanent the president’s $1,000-per-child tax credit and for treating married couples fairly in the tax code, he told the 5th District Republican Convention meeting at the University of Virginia’s Newcomb Hall Theater.

“My opponent, in Farmville, indicated that he opposed the Bush tax cuts, such as these, but it was the leadership of the president and the Congress that approved those tax cuts in the last Congress and ignited a fire for economic recovery,” said Goode, a 57-year-old former Democrat.

Fifth District Democrats nominated Nelson County vintner Al Weed on May 8 to oppose Goode’s bid for a fifth term. Weed said then that he supports lowering taxes for working families.

No ponying here

Goode predicted that what he called “the liberal national media will unleash a fierce assault on President Bush and the top of the ticket” and scored Weed for playing to the national media.

“My opponent has criticized me for being too focused on the 5th District,” Goode told the GOP crowd. “If you want someone who’s going to be ponying up to the New York Times, the L.A. Times and the other liberal national media, then you should be pushing Weed and not Goode. I make no apology for working to serve the citizens of the 5th District because I think they should be first.”

He pledged that he would “continue to stand for our armed forces,” for prescription drug benefits for seniors and cited several votes to improve veterans’ benefits and better equip troops. One amendment Goode sponsored provides more Veterans Administration funding to prevent increases in some veterans’ prescription co-payments and enrollment fees.

Another measure that Goode sponsored passed the House on Wednesday on a 231-191 vote but faces an uphill battle in the U.S. Senate. He said his amendment to a defense bill would “authorize troops on our borders to prevent illegal drug trafficking, to enhance protection against terrorists’ entry into the United States and to thwart illegal aliens.”

“Even though much has been done to make America more secure, much more needs to be done,” Goode said.

He thanked the Republican activists for gathering 4,000 signatures on petitions, which allowed him to be nominated several weeks ago by virtue of being the only GOP candidate to file in the 5th District for a party primary.

Campaign money

Three statewide Republican candidates in 2005 contests for party nominations addressed Saturday’s convention, and two of them handed Goode $1,000 checks for his re-election campaign.

State Sen. William T. Bolling, R-Mechanicsville, and Del. Robert F. McDonnell, R-Virginia Beach, gave Goode their checks and spoke about the importance they place upon re-electing both Goode and Bush.

“George W. Bush is the president that this nation needs at this time,” said Bolling, a candidate for lieutenant governor in the GOP’s June 14, 2005, nominating primary. Bolling said that he and Attorney General Jerry W. Kilgore, who is running for governor next year, are the candidates for lower taxes who will ensure the Republican Party “will not be the party of higher taxes.”

McDonnell, who is running for the party’s nomination for attorney general in 2005, said re-electing Bush and Goode this year would be the best way voters could protect economic and religious freedoms.

The other statewide candidate to address the convention, Del. Joe T. May, R-Leesburg, said he wants to be lieutenant governor to promote economic and technology development and to help streamline government.

The convention elected Keith Drake of Albemarle County to be the 5th District’s Republican Party national elector. If Bush carries Virginia on Nov. 2, Drake, the Albemarle GOP chairman, will be able to cast a ballot for him in the Electoral College.

The convention made one change in the district’s delegation to the Republican State Central Committee by electing Christopher W. Shores of Cumberland County to replace Brenda Campbell. Shores was nominated by Charlottesville City Councilor Rob Schilling." (Bob Gibson, The Daily Progress, May 22, 2004)

Contact Bob Gibson at (434) 978-7243 or bgibson@dailyprogress.com.