"Democrats are lining up to run against 5th District Rep. Virgil H. Goode Jr., who no longer appears quite as invincible as in past years.

Bern Ewert of Charlottesville, a former Roanoke city manager, and Al Weed, Goode’s Democratic opponent last year, are looking at 2006 as a good year to go after the Rocky Mount Republican by adding Tom DeLay and perhaps even President Bush to Goode’s list of baggage.

It remains to be seen how big a positive or negative Bush will be this November for Virginia Republicans, and next year is an even bigger question for mid-term congressional elections, which have bitten some two-term presidents in their sixth year.

DeLay already appears to be a bit of a drag for politicians to carry on their backs.

The take-no-prisoners Texan is in the fight of his political life as the man who defines big-money, big-lobbyist knife fighting for partisan gain.

Ewert pointed this week to a $5,000 contribution from one of DeLay’s PACs to Goode and predicted that the Republican congressman would return the cash.

'It’s really indicative of the culture of corruption in Washington,' Ewert said of the DeLay gift to Goode on the heels of money that the congressman got from troubled defense contractor MZM Inc. before its owner found himself mixed up in California Rep. Duke Cunningham’s ethical lapses.

Ewert is new to the race, and says he is running, while Weed has been aiming toward another challenge since he lost by a big margin last year.

Weed said he welcomes the competition.

'I think it’s good that there are people interested in running,' said Weed, a Nelson County wine-maker. 'I think it will make it interesting.'

As for DeLay, Weed called the former House Majority Leader a politician who pressured so many lobbyists he practiced 'almost legalized extortion.'

Weed said the money that Goode got 'is all tainted by the way DeLay was doing his politics. … He ought to give it back.'

Goode said he sees nothing improper in the PAC money he received from DeLay.

''f there was anything shown to be illegal or improper with that, I would give the money back,' he said.

He said having two Democrats vying for the right to challenge him is just fine.

'The last time, I had three so I guess someone else will come along, too,' said the five-term congressman.

As for what he thinks of DeLay himself, Goode said, 'I get along with him and get along with all the other members of the caucus, and try to get along with the Democrats, too.'

Ewert said his race is beginning with a bang.

So far, Ewert said the support he is getting includes such big names as C. Richard Cranwell, the former Vinton delegate who now chairs the state Democratic Party, and Del. Mitchell Van Yahres, D-Charlottesville.

'I told Bern I would help him,' Van Yahres said. 'He’s got good experience.'

Van Yahres was mayor when Ewert first came to Charlottesville in the 1970s and worked his way up from administrative assistant to City Manager Cole Hendrix to become the city’s deputy city manager.

Ewert later became Roanoke’s city manager from 1978 to 1985, county executive in Prince William County from 1997 to 2000 and worked in Peoria, Ill., and Galveston, Tex., as well as the Czech Republic. From his years as a visible public figure in the Roanoke area, Ewert can be seen as fairly well known in much of the Southside Virginia region of the 5th District.

Larry J. Sabato, director of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics, said DeLay could become a big target for Democrats next year and at least two dozen candidates for the House of Representatives are already attacking DeLay’s PAC contributions to Republican incumbents.

'I expect that number to grow substantially,' Sabato said. 'Virtually every Republican has received money from [DeLay] or one of his PACs at some point. Many GOP members have gotten repeated donations.

'Clearly, this will be a main theme of Democratic House campaigns throughout the nation,' Sabato said. 'Of course, what happens to DeLay matters' in light of his recent indictments in Texas.

'If he is convicted and has to resign, he’ll be off the scene,' Sabato said. 'But if he’s acquitted and actually gets back into the leadership, which he insists will happen despite the odds, then DeLay could be the Democrats’ poster boy in ’06.'

Democrats can’t wait for that DeLay." (Bob Gibson, The Daily Progress, October 9, 2005)