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Virgil Goode |
Friday, July 3, 2009
By MICKEY POWELL - Bulletin Staff Writer
Former congressman Virgil Goode Jr. said Thursday he plans to decide soon whether to run again for the 5th District U.S. House of Representatives seat.
The veteran lawmaker, a Republican from Rocky Mount, said his decision is “not too far off,” but “I haven’t set an iron clad deadline” for making it.
Goode’s political career lasted 36 years. He first was elected to the state Senate in 1973 and remained there until 1996, when he was elected to the House of Representatives. He stayed in Congress until January of this year.
He was defeated in the Nov. 4 election by Democratic political newcomer Tom Perriello of Albemarle County by 727 votes. A three-judge panel certified the vote count in December after Goode sought a recount.
Goode said “there are a lot of factors to consider” in deciding whether to run for the 5th District House seat again in 2010.
He declined to elaborate at length, but he said he will consider the wishes of family members, friends and voters in the district with whom he has talked.
Goode added that if he does not seek the 5th District seat, eventually he may consider running for another political office.
In the fall election, Goode was the top vote-getter in 13 of the 20 counties and cities in the largely rural 5th District. However, Perriello’s popularity in urban areas — particularly Charlottesville/Albemarle County — ultimately led to Goode’s defeat, according to election results and political analysts.
Goode declined to comment on Perriello’s performance in Congress.
A former lawyer, Goode was barred from outside employment while he was in Congress. He said he no longer is practicing law, although he helps family members with legal matters occasionally.
He said he has kept busy lately attending political events and speaking at various places in Virginia and North Carolina about political issues, including what he said is a need to reform immigration and affirmative action laws. |
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