Goode won't seek reelection, mum on why

Former 5th District Congressman Virgil Goode has announced he will not seek the Republican nomination to run against freshman Congressman Tom Perriello in 2010.

Goode, who served as the district’s congressional representative for 12 years after a 23-year career in the Virginia Senate, lost to Perriello by 727 votes in November.

In a news release Monday, Goode said he hopes to support a conservative Republican in the upcoming election, “who will oppose the record deficits and debt of the current administration, will support secure borders and oppose amnesty for illegals, will recognize and reduce the huge threat that terrorists pose for our county, will support pro-life issues and will support the traditional definition of marriage of one man and one woman.”

His news release does not give a reason for his decision not to run, and he could not be reached for comment on Monday. Goode’s wife, Lucy, answered the telephone at their home Monday afternoon and said Goode would not be commenting further on his decision at this time.

Pittsylvania County Republican Party Chairman Ronnie Mayhew said he did not know why Goode has decided not to seek the Republican nomination. Mayhew said he had dinner with Goode a few weeks ago and the former congressman had not yet made a decision.

Mayhew said a district convention will probably be held to nominate a Republican contender.

“We have a lot of good potential candidates in the 5th District,” Mayhew said, but said he would not “name names” until hats are officially tossed in the ring. He also noted that Bradley Rees, a 31-year-old from Bedford, announced his Republican candidacy last month.

Rees’ campaign is focused mainly on the Fair Tax, which calls for the abolition of the federal income tax and the institution of a national sales tax. He said he would welcome the opportunity to debate with other candidates.

Rees said he agrees “absolutely” with Goode’s stance on the current administration’s debt and reducing terrorist threats.

“In this day and age, rogue nations are getting nuclear weapons,” Rees said. “That’s dangerous, given the stated intentions of some of their leaders.”

Rees said he is not as “stringent” as Goode on the issue of illegal immigration, and said he feels the quota system for immigration should be abolished and immigration rules relaxed.

In the meantime, thought, he said he feels, “the laws of the land should be enforced.”

Rees did not give his personal stance on abortion or gay marriage, but said he felt Roe v. Wade should be overturned because it’s “bad case law.”

He said according to the 10th Amendment, both abortion and gay marriage should not be handled at the federal level, but at the state level, with residents of each state voting for how the issues should be handled in their state.

“It should be done through a ballot, not through the whim of a government or a governor,” Rees said.

In a formal statement released Monday, Rees thanked Goode for his years of service.

He wished Goode “Godspeed in all his endeavors … as he continues to be a bastion for strong values in private life.”

Both state Del. Danny Marshall, R-Danville, and state Sen. Robert Hurt, R-Chatham, said they had been approached about running for the 5th District congressional seat.

Marshall said he was surprised by Goode’s decision, but noted that after 35 years of being away from his family for long periods, Goode deserves to retire.

During a recent conversation with Goode, Marshall said he learned Goode and his wife were going on vacation. Marshall said he asked Goode when he and Lucy had last gone on vacation.

“He thought about it for a minute, then said he couldn’t remember when,” Marshall said.

Marshall said he is not interested in running for Congress at this time.

“I think it is in the best interests of Southside for me to remain a representative in the House of Delegates,” Marshall said, citing his seniority in the General Assembly and his seat on the Tobacco Commission as effective positions for him to use to benefit the region.

“The election is 18 months away,” Marshall noted. “It will be interesting to see who steps forward.”

Hurt said he appreciates being approached about running for Congress, but said he is “totally focused on helping Bob McDonnell get into the governor’s office, and helping Danny Marshall get reelected. I’ll think long and hard about the opportunity being presented to me, but it’s a long way off.”

He said he appreciated Goode’s years of service.

“He served with such dedication and honor,” Hurt said. “He spoke for the people he represented, and that is not always common.”