"In their first appearance of the new year, congressional candidates Tom Perriello and Dave Shreve spoke before the Danville Democratic Committee in Danville on Saturday about their respective campaigns to unseat U.S. Rep. Virgil Goode.

At Danville Regional Airport, Perriello was confident about his chances, noting that his campaign raised a quarter of a million dollars in the last three months. He said he was putting the money into a “grassroots” network.

“We will have people all over the district 11 months ahead of time,” he said.

He told those attending he was putting together a campaign of “tremendous, tremendous belief.”

Previously, Goode, a Republican, had outpaced his Democratic challengers in cash on hand, according to a report from the Federal Election Commission, for the date ending Sept. 30.

Goode had $351,757, Perriello had $110,744, and Shreve had $9,755 cash on hand.

Echoing the call for change among presidential candidates, Perriello and Shreve talked about a new direction.

Perriello, who supports strong schools, health care and a living wage, said the next chapter of Danville’s history hadn’t been written yet.

“Together, we can write it this year,” he said. “It’s going to be about who stands up and fights.”

He spoke out against the so-called “Fair Tax,” which Goode addressed on his Web site. Perriello called it unfair.

On his Web site, Goode said he would support the Fair Tax with certain modifications. Goode said the Fair Tax is basically a national sales tax, and has a “prebate” of $180 per month per person, which he said “should be limited to United States citizens, who are adults and who reside in the United States.”

Taking time out from the event, Shreve spoke on his stance on various issues.

He addressed Rep. John Conyers Jr.’s “Medicare for All” bill. While Shreve said he supports it, he thinks it could be funded without raising payroll taxes. One way to do this, said Shreve, could be closing loopholes and ending special tax breaks.

“There are better ways to finance it,” he said.

Shreve also spoke out against unfunded mandates for states, saying it was “pinching” those governments.

Sheila Baynes, chair of the Democratic committee, was impressed by the candidates.

“I think we have two excellent choices and I think it’s going to be a tough decision for the public,” Baynes said." (Eric Hrin, Danville Register & Bee, January 5, 2008)