"Declaring that Northern Virginia's economic boom has yet to trickle down to the state's southern flank, Democratic congressional hopeful John W. Boyd, Jr. on Monday took his long-shot campaign to unseat 5th District Rep. Virgil H. Goode Jr. to Charlottesville.

'We need representation that's going to fight to save our jobs,' the 34-year-old Boyd told 30 to 35 local Democrats and supporters on the city's Downtown Mall - part of a three-pronged tour of the district that included events in Danville and Boydon.

Taking a swipe at Goode, a Rocky Mount independent who bolted the Democratic Party in January, Boyd repeatedly stressed 'unity among Democrats' and contrasted his 'do-something' campaign with the 'do-nothing,' Republican-controlled Congress.

Kevin Lynch with John Boyd

To underscore his point, Boyd's rival for the Democratic nomination, Allen Hale, and Democratic city Councilor Kevin Lynch turned up to lend support.

Hale, echoing Bill Bradley (who echoed Vince Lombardi last week when he endorsed Vice President Al Gore for president), told the mostly friendly crowd, 'Winning is a team sport.'

Unity or no unity, Boyd, a Mecklenburg County tobacco fanner and the founder of the National Black Farmers Association, faces an uphill battle.

Boyd's campaign manager, Don Bush, reported that the candidate has raised about $6,000 to date. Bush added that Boyd would seek money from political action committees recommended by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Goode, by contrast, has about $375,000 stowed away. What's more, Republican leaders have given Goode, who has frequently voted with the Republican majority, a seat on the influential House Appropriations Committee.
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According to figures from the Virginia's Employment Commission, the 5th District's unemployment rate hit 4.3 percent in May.

While the unemployment level in Charlottesville and Albemarle County hovered around 1.5 percent, unemployment rates in the district's southern tier jumped to 16.3 percept in Martinsville, 8.5 percent in Danville and 8.3 percent in Halifax County.

Boyd, responding to this disparity, said the federal government should help the elderly pay for prescription drugs, ensure Social Security's long-term solvency, put more computers in public schools and cut waste.

Boyd also supported cutting taxes and fair trade, adding that he opposes the recently passed China trade deal because it promotes slave labor and does not include a system of checks and balances.

Although Boyd would not specify what kind of tax cuts he favors or how large those cuts would be,he said the details of his policy prescriptions would be forthcoming.

Reporter Peter Savodnik with John Boyd

Boyd also dismissed concerns that his loyalty to the Democratic Party, among whose most generous constituencies are trial lawyers who have made a fortune suing tobacco companies, conflicts with his support for tobacco farmers.

'I'm not here advocating on behalf of tobacco companies. Tobacco kills,' said Boyd, who proposed that farmers consider crop diversification.

Democratic Councilor Maurice Cox applauded Boyd for taking on Goode. 'I came out here to see what the man stands for, and I'm really impressed,' Cox said. 'And I'm especially pleased that he's African-American'" (Peter Savodnik, The Daily Progress, July 18, 2000).