In Central valley, Chandra Levy fate the issue
Patty
By JEFF JARDINE
BEE STAFF WRITER
(Published: Sunday, June 24, 2001)
On the streets of Modesto and Ceres, Rep. Gary Condit receives unwavering support from
some and scoldings from others.
But many simply want him to speak out.
They want to know about the nature of his relationship with missing intern Chandra
Levy, a 24-year-old Modesto woman last seen April 30 in Washington, D.C.
"He would be helping the family if he told everything he knows," Modesto resident
Kathleen Dunn said Thursday, hours before Condit met with the Levy family. "If he knows
something and can't come forward, he isn't doing anything to help anybody. Look at her
parents' stress."
Lita Theodore, a Modesto teacher, also said Condit should be more publicly forthcoming
with information.
"It's been my experience that a little bit of truth is the beginning of gossip,"
Theodore said. "If he's the man of integrity he claims to be, he'll come forward."
Some said they would not vote for him again if evidence surfaced that Condit and Levy
had an affair -- something that Levy's mother, Susan, has suggested. Through spokesmen,
Condit has denied a romantic relationship, and his lawyer has said the issue is
irrelevant.
Others simply refuse to believe anything was going on between Levy and Condit, who's 53
and married.
"It hasn't changed my feelings about him at all," said Karen Villa of Modesto. "He's
come to our union meetings. I've met him a few times in the mall, and he's always been
willing to talk about the issues. I think it's all been blown out of proportion.
"He's not a suspect. He has a right to speak whenever he's ready to. He's always given
the appearance of being a family man."
Bob Nelson of Modesto said he believes Condit is the target of a smear campaign.
"I think it's a Republican ploy to discredit another Democrat -- I really do," Nelson
said. "He's proved himself all the way up to now. It's mostly small-time gossip. I grew up
in Ceres. I took pictures of his (swearing in). He and his wife are great people. He's one
of the few politicians I'd trust."
Perry McElhaney of Turlock said the media are focused on the wrong person.
"It seems like the reporters now are after Condit instead of looking for (Levy)," he
said. "They are not adding anything to the recovery of the lady. I'd still vote for him."
Almost all of those interviewed, however, agreed that Condit's alleged relationship
with Levy is keeping the story of her disappearance in the national headlines.
"You hate to say it, but without him, she is just another face on a billboard," said
Damon Rogers of Ceres, who attended elementary school with Condit's daughter, Cadee.
Cynthia Darmstander of Modesto, a Republican who did not vote for Condit in the last
election, agreed.
"There's something about this story that has captured the imaginations of the American
people, or they (the networks and national press) wouldn't be on it like the are," she
said.
Rogers, the Ceres resident who said he has known the Condit family for years, defended
Condit's silence.
"The media and (Levy) family have been wrongfully attacking him," Rogers said. "It's
because he is a congressman. When people go out and start talking, that's what gets you in
trouble."