Dear Editor

I write this letter concerning the upcoming 9^th District Congressional election where Rep. Rick Boucher will be running for a 15^th term as the representative for the 9^th District. However, I believe that most if not all those currently living in the 9^th District know about Rep. Boucher and all that he has done for the district in his over 20 years of service to the 9^th District. So I am going to address something about his presumptive opponent that I personally have immense concern over and I believe all those voting in the election should be fully aware of.

House of Delegate member Morgan Griffith has recently announced he will be challenging Congressman Boucher in the 2010 election, something that I have no problem with. Competition is never a bad thing especially in politics; it allows for new ideas to be introduced and gives people a chance at seeing the American Democracy in action, a truly beautiful thing to witness. What does concern me is the fact that Morgan Griffith lives in Salem, Va., an area not in the 9^th District but in the 6^th District, a district currently represented by Congressman Bob Goodlatte. His current House of Delegates district is composed of Salem and Roanoke, more urban areas not even close to 9^th District rural counties like Wise County or Bland County.

 I do not understand how Del. Griffith can represent an area that he does not live in, especially an area as vast and complex as the 9^th District. If he truly has ideas on how to improve America, and believes he can be an excellent Congressman, why not challenge Rep. Bob Goodlatte in the 6^th district, the district he currently resides in. I do not believe it is fair that the 9^th District could possibly not have a House of Representative member fighting for the rights and interests of the thousands who live in the 9^th District, in counties such as Wythe, Grayson, or Montgomery, if Del. Griffith has his way and beats Rep. Boucher.

I also cannot honesty believe that if an issue arises that puts the interests of the 9^th District against the interests of the 6^th District that Del. Griffith will vote for the people he would represent and not the district that he would reside in. It would be a travesty for Southwest Virginia if the 6^th District got two votes in Congress while the 9^th District got zero, eliminating the voices of around 600,000 residents of the 9^th District from the halls of Congress

 I believe every person who casts a ballot in November should understand that one of the candidates on the ballot does not live in the 9^th District and could very possibly not have the interests of the citizens of the 9^th District at heart, instead desiring and prioritizing his own political interests.

Sincerely,

Charles Midkiff
Radford