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By BURKE DAVIS III
Arundel Newapapen SUIT Writer
Democrat David Smith whirled through the Seventh District last week with attacks on “Washington nonsense” and promises of environmental responsibility as he began his campaign to unseat Republican D. French Slaughter Jr. for the 7th District congressional seat.
Smith’s campaign workers believe the three-term congressman is vulnerable despite the 98 percent rate at which congressional incumbents are re-elected to the House. They say that their findings show Slaughter has only a 41 percent name recognition in the 7th District.
Seventh District Democrats meet for their nominating convention at 11 a.m. Saturday at Rappahannock High School. The keynote speaker is Lt. Gov. Don Beyer. ,
Smith’s camp figures he is the front runner of the three candidates for the nomination. The others are Robert Frazier of Earlysville and Alexander Peaslee of Charlottesville.
The district includes Fauquier and stretches from central Virginia to the Shenandoah Valley. A picnic will follow at the Child Care and Learning Center.
The 33-year-old Smith is the first challenge Slaughter has faced since he first won the congressional seat in 1984, when he handily defeated Democrat Lou Costello to take the place of retiring Republican Kenneth Robinson. Slaughter beat Costello soundly throughout the district, winning with 58 percent of the vote.
Slaughter has never lost a race in his political career. He served 10 terms — 20 years — in the state legislature before his three terms in Congress.
But Smith, a Methodist minister, appears to think he can defeat the undefeated. Smith is the son of State Del. Alson Smith, D-Frederick, a power in state politics. The elder Smith promised to serve as his son’s treasurer if he first raised $50,000 for the campaign.
With the money raised and his influential father now officially on his team, Smith may present a real threat to Slaughter.
He spoke confidently to a group of about 35 Democrats who gathered at the Old Courthouse to hear him last Thursday and he introduced himself in shops and offices along Main Street in Warrenton with breezy enthusiasm.
“I think we have a good chance,” Smith said later during a private interview. “I think there is a general discontent in the district.”
The “Washington nonsense,” Smith said, must be replaced by “Virginia common sense.” Deficit
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