George,

Meredith Richards is not yet the Congressional candidate I hoped she would become. Her "debate" with Virgil Goode over who is a bigger supporter of Virginia's death penalty was disgraceful. I sent Meredith an e-mail several days ago seeking her answers to several questions on this issue. The questions concerned her awareness, or lack of same, about issues relating to capital punishment in Virginia, the JLARC study, the over 100 exonerations nationwide of men and women awaiting execution, and exact nature of the crimes for which she says justify execution. To date, I have received no reply.

I do not know Meredith well enough to know the basis for her announced support of capital punishment. I do know that I believe her position is wrong. The fact that Virgil Goode ...that's VIRGIL GOODE, folks, for God's sake!... is the one trying to prove that he and she differ on this issue is revolting. Meredith voted for a City Council resolution supporting a moratorium on Virginia's death penalty. What were her convictions leading to that vote? Doesn't support for a moratorium indicate some doubts or questions on the issue? It does to me. Does the larger stage of a fairly conservative Congressional District result in different conclusions on the same issue? I hope not, but it's one way to view this matter.

Meredith could have at least reaffirmed her support for a moratorium and a careful look at the system. She could have said that there are aspects of our system that are troublesome to many, herself included, that a thorough review is in order, and that we ought not to be taking people's lives during such a study. She could have mentioned the Earl Washington case as a troubling reminder of the fallibility of our system (Meredith, if you don't already know about that case, please ask someone other than me about it).

We already have Virgil Goode. I know where he stands on issues of importance to me. I thought that Meredith stood apart from him, both in her positions and in a more thoughtful process in arriving at them. I'm not real certain of that today.

Bruce Williamson (electronic mail, August 28, 2002)