Cantor Opponent Sets Record Straight

It would seem that Jay Fulton (“Letters,” May 18) might wish to open his mind. Eric Cantor did not run unopposed in 2004. I ran against him. Mr. Fulton is perhaps unable to see me because I ran as an independent candidate, yet many others from District 7 have better vision. Over 24 percent of the district voted for me, which is, as far as I know, the largest turnout for an independent party candidate in the history of Virginia.

Several things make this surprising. We ran a very low-budget campaign, only $4,000 in funding (contrasted to Cantor’s $1.9 million). District 7 was gerrymandered in 2001 to ensure Republican control, and the conservative American Political Almanac listed it as the safest Republican seat in the entire United States, with a less than 1 in 9 chance of unseating Cantor. Yet after our shoestring campaign they shifted the odds to 1 to 3.

With the continued economic failure of the Bush administration to conserve anything, those odds are rapidly approaching 50/50, so I am running again for the 2006 cycle. With a better-funded campaign, more public outreach and as the first verifiably honest candidate, we expect to set another record, and Mr. Cantor will be looking for new work after November of next year.

Brad Blanton

Thalhimer Is Fondly Remembered

The estimable Mr. Slipek’s profile of the late William B. Thalhimer Jr. (Remembrance, June 8), paints an amiable portrait of a much missed dynamo. I was confused, however, by the opening sentence of the article, in which Mr. Thalhimer was described as “titian” (rhymes with mission) retailer. “Titian,” meaning one who possesses reddish or golden brown locks, is an adjective derived from the painter Titian’s introduction of color to the Venetian school. But the photo of Mr. Thalhimer shows a distinctly chocolate brunette. After reading the article, I believe the intended descriptor was “Titan,” a reference to a son of Uranus, which connotes a man of power and strength.

Genevelyn Steele

Time Is Running Out!

The clearance of One City, Our City merchandise is not limited to city employees (“A Slogan Markdown,” Street Talk, June 8). Anyone can purchase the soon-to-be-rare and collectible items at www.ukropsdressexpress.com/webcatalog/richmond.asp.

Mariane Jorgenson

Correction and Clarification

We misspelled Peggy Friedenberg’s name in “Homeward’s Gordon Leaving for Byrd House” (Street Talk, June 8). Also, William B. Thalhimer Jr. was a Titan retailer and not, as we incorrectly referred to him, a titian retailer (Remembrance, June 8). Style regrets the errors.