September 26, 2007
Immigration key issue in 20th district race

Immigration is turning out to be a key factor in the race for the Virginia's 20th district, which stretches from Martinsville westward to Wythe and Grayson Counties. For 11 years, Roscoe Reynolds has been the voice for the Southwest in Richmond. But Republican Jeff Evans, a retired state trooper and Vietnam vet, says it's time for a change.

The challenger's current ad campaign doesn't focus on taxes or transportation, rather it focuses on immigration. A radio ad claims Reynolds helped deny police additional authority to fight illegal immigration. The ad says, "Reynolds' vote gave illegal immigrants the chance to escape after committing a crime. For this, illegal immigrants say 'Muchas gracious, Senator Reynolds.'"

Reynolds says he did in fact vote against denying bail to illegals caught for other crimes, but he says the ad is deceptive because those illegals would still be held for the crimes they committed. The senator says the real issue is not state and local powers on immigration but what the federal government has failed to do. "It's like a spicket that's been turned on," says Reynolds. "You can bail out your basement that's filling with water, but as long as the spicket's still running and the water's coming in, you're not going to make any progress with the problem."

Aside from immigration, both say they'll work to overturn the current abuser fees here in Virginia. Closer to home, they plan to create jobs and finish road projects which will open the area to more commerce.

http://www.wdbj7.com/Global/story.asp?S=7133235