Voice of Craig County for 28 years faces tough election
CRAIG COUNTY – Democratic Congressman Rick Boucher, one of Craig County’s biggest advocates for 28 years, is telling voters he needs their help this year.
“This is going to be a very tough election year, and I need your help,” said Boucher, who is running for re-election to represent the 9th District. Boucher is currently serving his 14th term in the U.S. House of Representatives. In the November election he will face Republican H. Morgan Griffith of Salem, who is currently majority leader in the Virginia House of Delegates.
At the firehouse in Paint Bank, Democratic incumbent Congressman Rick Boucher greets supporters. With Boucher, second from right, are Opal Caldwell, Carrie Crawford and Peter Wrenn. Photo by Gwen Johnson
Last week Boucher gathered with about three dozen people for an informal dinner in Paint Bank last week at the Paint Bank Volunteer Fire Department. “Rick has been the voice of Craig County and the 9th District for 28 years,” said Peter Wrenn, chairman of the Democratic Party in Craig. “The fact that Morgan Griffith is running for the 9th District is insulting,” Wrenn said. I don’t even know what he’s going to run on. He doesn’t know anything about bear hunters or deer hunters, or fishermen or farmers or rural areas,” Wrenn continued. “Rick Boucher has been here 28 years for us and now it’s time to be here for him.”
In pointing out why he would be a better representative for Craig County in Washington, Boucher told the people: “My work in Craig County goes all the way back to the days when I met Zane Jones who was chairman of the Craig County Board of Supervisors and later became a great friend.
“Nobody worked harder for me than he did in those early years. Zane never did anything entirely for free. Literally the day after the election in 1982 the first phone call I got that morning he said, ‘OK, the election is done, you’re a congressman now and I want you to get to work. I want you to get any act of congress for Craig County.’
“I said, ‘Oh, I’m glad you started with something simple,’” Boucher said.
The federal government owned a tract of land that Craig County needed for a landfill and Jones told Boucher that was going to be the first act of Congress he would get passed. Sure enough, three months later it was signed into law by President Ronald Regan.
“And that was not the only thing that Zane asked me to do,” Boucher said with a laugh. “But that was one of the first. I have the fondest memories of those days campaigning for Zane.
Now with a tough race in the offing, Boucher tells listeners that “Republicans have targeted this area and reminds them that his interest in Craig County has been longstanding. “You’re very fortunate to live here, and I feel fortunate to represent it and that is why I need your help,” Boucher said.
“The people of Southwest Virginia want someone they have confidence in who has performed on their behalf, and I will be immodest tonight and say that would be me. I feel confident going into this race,” he continued. “But I’m only confident because of all the strengths of the partnerships I have built county after county all across SWVA.”
He told them outside money will be spent on this campaign on negative ads, “But I trust the residents of Southwest Virginia to make intelligent decisions. I need your assistance to talk to your friends and neighbors.
“There are going to be a lot of negative ads on TV directed at me, and I would far rather have good friends talking to others about our achievement than all of that money spent on ads on TV. You’re going to see positive ads from us talking about our achievements and what we are going to do.”
Boucher said he was going to focus on achievements for the people he represents directly and said he was open for suggestions of something the people would like to see in Craig County. “I’m always on the lookout for new ideas.”
Among programs Boucher said he has most recently been instrumental in obtaining federal funding are: the Paint Bank Volunteer Fire Department; Craig County’s new 3,500-square foot Medical Center and ball fields being constructed by the Craig County Recreation and Conservation Association.
He has also been instrumental in bringing 100 new technology jobs to the SWVA region; has worked to protect the area’s farming way of life and to provide the best education by increasing funding for public schools, colleges, and vocational training programs, Boucher said.
One particularly exciting project is the establishment of Telemedicine opportunities throughout the SWVA region, he pointed out.
Boucher is now encouraging supporters to talk to friends and neighbors, to use bumper stickers and put up yard signs. “Our yard signs have been tested,” Boucher said, “so they can stand up against all the hot air from the other side.”
For further information or to contact Congressman Boucher go to www.boucherforcongress.com or call his office in Abingdon, VA, at 276-628-7197.
Mark did a great job both with the story and the beautiful picture as usual. Thanks Mark for your contribution to the Armed Services as well.