Each year when the air chills and the leaves turn brown, you can be assured of one thing: political campaigns are gearing up. In most cases, there are several candidates desperately trying to get your attention and eventually your vote.
The sole local race is for the congressional seat for the 9th District, which extends from Roanoke to the Tennessee/Kentucky border. This year there will be two candidates, Barta and Boucher.
Dr. Joe Barta is a Radford based ophthalmologist running as a political novice. As a Republican, he is running on the platform of ending partial birth abortions, reforming social security, lowering taxes, and protecting religious liberty. He has publicly chastised the President and called for his resignation. It is considered an uphill battle for Barta to beat the incumbent.
Rick Boucher, a former lawyer from Abingdon, has been the 9th district congressman since 1983. Largely considered a moderate Democrat, Boucher recently offered the amendment that would have limited the scope of the impeachment inquiry against the President and called for a thorough constitutional review before Congress takes action. His platform consists of economic development, improving education, and promoting technology issues. He is considered a national leader in internet and technology issues which carries some irony because his district is mostly rural.
While it is not a shoe in, it looks like Boucher has a strong lead over Barta. But being in a topsy-turvy political climate might be advantageous for Dr. Barta this November 3. His campaign could still pull off an upset.
Most students don't care enough to vote. But remember, if you are not voting, the running of the government and the direction of the nation is completely out of your hands. If you do want to vote, it is not too late to get your absentee ballots or to stop by your home county's voter registrar to vote in person early because of school. To find out more about the other races around the country, visit Web White & Blue.
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Name:Scott Cloud Comments:
Someone call PETA: the underdog just got BEAT. Rick Boucher received 87,090 votes, while Joe Barta got only 55,942. A clear victory for positive campaigning some pundints are claiming. Others say that even though well financed, Barta's campaign just did not the momentum to overcome such an established institution as Rick Boucher. Congradualtions to all those who voted, either way. Thanks to Whim for covering an issue so important.
Name: A normal person Comments:
It seems to me that Boucher has run an completly positive campaign and Barta has run a completly negative one. I think that we are lucky to have such a clear distinction in the way both of these men handle themselves. Boucher is about progress and development and Barta is focused on tearing down that which he doesn't agree with. We have not heard anything fom Joe Barta on how is he going to be good for our region, just how supposidly Rick Boucher is bad, which I as a fairly objective citizen, really can't see at all. Thank God we have such a clear choice on election day.
Name: a die-hard Republican Comments: GO BARTA!!! WOO HOO!!
Name:Scott Cloud Comments:
Jonathan, that sounds like a great idea! Remember to vote this November 3rd. Also, I hear Mr. Barta is having a rally/press conference at 3:30 at the Tech airport this Friday if anyone is interested in going to that one too. Let's hear what both candidates have to say.
Name: Jonathan L. Doe Comments:
Wow! This Boucher guy sounds like the candidate for me! Say, I hear he is having a rally at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Christiansburg this Saturday at 9:00 a.m. I know that is pretty early, but I thinkI am going to go show my support for such a great congressman.
