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ing issue, which has been depicted as one that has consumed him but has little widespread public appeal.
Farris responds that the issue to him has simply been one of giving those who want to teach their children at home a fair chance to do so without undue government interference.
He quickly adds that the recognizes the vast majority of Virginians with children will continue to send them to public schools and for that reason “we need real reform of our public schools.” That reform, he said, should include cutting the unwieldy bureaucracy to provide more money for local schools and teachers, and giving parents considerably more choice on where their children attend schools.
Farris claims his support, far from being from just one wing of the party, cuts across the spectrum and that his is a policy of inclusion that can only help the GOP ticket this fall.
It is certainly not the purpose of this columnist to promote any conclusions about the battle for the lieutenant governor’s nomination that will continue to be heated for the next month and a half.
But is is only fair to say that Mike Farris, win or lose, appears bright, articulate and savvy and not the one-dimensional figure who has been the creation of some elements within his own party.
(Editor’s note: John Goolrick, a former political reporter, is now an aide to 1st District Rep. Herbert Bateman. Opinions expressed are his oivn, and not necessarily those of this newspaper.)
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