"WASHINGTON -- Rep. Virgil H. Goode Jr. of Virginia is facing political fallout from California Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham's acknowledgement of taking $2.4 million in bribes.

Cunningham, a Republican who resigned from Congress, implicated the former president of defense contractor MZM Inc. in his guilty plea.

MZM's political action committee, company employees and immediate family members have given more than $89,000 to Goode, R-5th, since 2003.

Two would-be Democratic challengers to Goode, who is a nine-year veteran, denounced what one called a "culture of corruption" and the other a "pattern of corruption" in Washington. One of them suggested that Goode return his hefty campaign donations tied to MZM; the other suggested he should give the money to charity.

The Democrats eyeing Goode's seat are vintner Al Weed of Nelson County, whom Goode defeated handily last year, and Bern Ewert of Charlottesville, a former Roanoke city manager and former Prince William County executive. They did not accuse Goode of wrongdoing or a lapse of ethics.

Goode responded yesterday that MZM Inc. had "provided good jobs" in his 5th District, which includes a large part of Southside Virginia.

"One person may have been bad, but a lot of people working for him are pillars of the community," Goode said.

Mitchell Wade, the former president of MZM, was not named in Cunningham's 33-page guilty plea as one of the alleged co-conspirators but his identity was made apparent by other details, according to The Associated Press.

Goode said he has returned $600 that was sought by two MZM-linked donors in response to a letter he mailed out offering refunds. He would consider, he said, further suggestions about the money if Weed, Ewert or other citizens in his district wrote to him.

Goode added that he has gotten letters from MZM-linked donors stating they gave their money freely and voluntarily and they support his efforts.

The $89,000 in donations to Goode was reported by the Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks campaign spending.

More than half that amount $49,625 -- has come this year from donors associated with MZM who lead his contributions list.

Goode is a lawyer and member of the influential House Appropriations Committee. He worked to help the Washington-based defense contractor expand in his district, as did state and local officials. MZM was sold this year to Veritas Capital.

Cunningham's pleas Monday caused ripples from the West Coast to the East. The Virginia Democrats' remarks about Goode showed how a wave of Washington ethics cases or investigations may become part of the election landscape next year.

Virginia Democratic Party spokesman Kevin Griffis contended yesterday that by Cunningham's admission, MZM "was indeed in the business of buying influence in Congress. That certainly raises some serious questions about anyone who received a large sum of money from that organization, from that company."

But Goode said that such leading Democrats as Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California have received large donations from employees and political action committees of businesses in their states or districts -- and that the issue of campaign finance is a legitimate one.

"I don't have half a billion [dollars] or however much Jon Corzine has," he said, referring to the wealthy Democratic senator who won election as New Jersey governor. "I have to take donations."

Democratic operative Dave "Mudcat" Saunders, based in Roanoke, did not think the MZM donations issue would likely hurt the popular Goode.

Goode goes to weddings in his district, to funerals, and would go to "every birth if they'd let him in," Saunders said. Goode "is the best at constituent services in the world," and the MZM issue "will go off of him like water off a duck's back," he added.

Tucker Watkins, 5th District GOP chairman, dismissed the Democratic candidates' talk as "searching for an issue." Watkins said anyone who "knows Virgil Goode and has ridden in his Honda that has over 250,000 miles on it, knows that Virgil Goode is as clean as the newly fallen snow."

After Cunningham's ties to Wade drew scrutiny earlier this year, Goode said his own efforts to help MZM were based on his opinion they did a good job and on the importance of bringing jobs to his district.

Goode was not alone in welcoming MZM. When it selected Martinsville for a database and information technology operation in 2003, a news release from the office of Gov. Mark R. Warner, a Democrat, hailed the new jobs and provided favorable quotes by Warner, Goode, Wade and the Martinsville mayor.

Also announced then was a $250,000 loan from the Governor's Opportunity Fund to help Martinsville with the project. The Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission provided another $250,000 to Martinsville.

About MZM and its political giving, Democrat Ewert said, "Because of the company's record, there is impropriety, and those funds in my opinion are therefore tainted regardless of what letters [Goode] has sent out." He plans to announce his candidacy on Saturday.

Democrat Weed said, "We see a company that had a business practice of bribing congressmen. The question people will be asking is, 'What did MZM think it was getting when it was giving these big donations to Virgil Goode?'"

Cunningham, an eight-term congressman, resigned after pleading guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit bribery and fraud, and tax evasion." (Peter Hardin, The Richmond Times-Dispatch, December 1, 2005)

Contact Peter Hardin at (202) 662-7669 or phardin@mediageneral.com