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By Jose Ebro
Rappahannock News Staff Writer
Some might be forgiven for thinking Walt Longyear a zealot.
After all, this self-described conservative Repub-lican started his political career with a run for the Connecticut Senate in 1974, soon after graduating from college. He was soundly beaten by the incumbent Democrat in a staunchly Democratic district. “I tell you,” he said of that episode, “the day President Ford pardoned Nixon was not a good day to be going door-todoor as a Republican.”
In the intervening years since then, Longyear has worked for other people’s campaigns, developing an expertise in direct-mail fund-raising. He has raised millions for Republicans Jesse Helms and Oliver North.
Currently chairman of the Rappahannock Republican Committee, Longyear is once again ready to run his own race. He is aiming for the 31st District seat that Delegate Jay Katzen will be vacating as he makes a run at the lieutenant governor’s post.
Katzen, Longyear said, had asked him to run and promised the support of his machinery. However, an official endorsement has yet to be made.
Longyear claims a strategy is involved. However, it remains a credibility question so long as Katzen sidesteps naming his choice of successor. This would prove crucial in a wideopen primary as candidates marshall donations for their candidacies.
Longyear estimates it will cost $30,000 to $50,000 to get his party’s nomination and $150,000 to $200,000 for the delegate’s race itself.
He aims to muster at least $100,000 by year’s end. “I’ll use what I know, direct-mail and personal solicitation. After 25 years of raising
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