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Posted on 07/14/2003 12:31:17 PM PDT by JohnnyZ
The long list of Republicans running for the 5th Congressional District got a little shorter yesterday.
Robert Clark, a member of the Winston-Salem City Council, said yesterday that he will not run for the Republican nomination to replace U.S. Rep. Richard Burr, who is running for U.S. Senate.
Clark said that he does not have enough time to campaign. He owns Leesona Industries, a manufacturer and distributor of textile equipment.
'It's a full-time job running (for office), and I already have a full-time job running my own business and a part-time job as a city councilman,' he said.
He said that he made his decision several weeks ago, and sent about 200 letters yesterday to donors informing them of his decision and refunding their contributions.
His campaigning had been limited to fund-raising, Clark said.
'We had not worried about policy issues or strategies yet,' he said.
He would not say how much he raised, but he called it a 'considerable' amount.
Clark said that the city council's decision to annex 22 square miles into Winston-Salem, which drew heavy criticism from some voters, did not influence his decision.
He said he is not disappointed about withdrawing.
'I'm comfortable with my decision,' he said. 'After those two commitments ... there was no time left.'
The Republican nominee will probably come out of the group of candidates that includes Vernon Robinson, a member of the Winston-Salem City Council -- Joe Byrd, a former Wilkes County commissioner -- state Sen. Virginia Foxx of Banner Elk -- John Cosgrove, a Clemmons businessman -- Ed Powell, a former state representative and former N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles commissioner -- Jim Snyder, a lawyer from Lexington -- Jay Helvey, a Winston-Salem businessman -- and Nathan Tabor, a vice president at Revival Soy, which is based in Kernersville.
Tabor is working with a new campaign staff after several members quit about three weeks ago. He said that they left after he rejected what he called an unrealistic campaign plan that called for him to spend $500,000 this summer and raise $900,000 for the primary.
Tabor said that two consultants, his finance director and campaign director quit.
'My campaign is better off,' he said.
Tabor said that the plan called for too much spending. The money would not have been spent wisely, he said. 'What type of moron writes a campaign plan and doesn't have a grass-roots component?' he asked.
Todd Bachman, the former campaign director, declined to comment. He is working for the Republican National Committee in Washington.
Tabor said he thought it would take about $500,000 to win the nomination. 'I don't see anybody raising $900,000 in this race,' he said.
Tabor, who said he has a net worth of $3.8 million, said he would spend some of his own money on the campaign.
'I will spend the money,' he said. 'I will spend it wisely.'
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