Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, August 1, 1993 TAG: 9308010165
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: D1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ROB EURE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.VA. LENGTH: Long
Meanwhile, Republican George Allen bemoaned his own lack of campaign cash, a refrain most often sung by Democrats, as he claimed Terry is a captive of her big contributors.
A 90-minute debate between the two rivals for Virginia's governorship showed the strain of party affiliation both face in their efforts to win the conservative mainstream of voters. Saturday's audience was the well-heeled membership of the Virginia Bar Association, holding its summer meeting at the luxurious Greenbrier resort, where rooms cost $400 a night.
Terry jumped at the opportunity when asked to comment on Clinton's plans to raise taxes and allow homosexuals in the military.
"I repudiate. The last thing we need now at the federal level is more taxes," Terry said.
She said she favors the old military policy against gays. Then she praised Ronald Reagan for supporting a five-day waiting period for handgun purchases and raising the drinking age to 21 - measures she backs and Allen has opposed. Terry cited a report from the Bush administration that claimed the higher drinking age saved the lives of 150 Virginia teen-agers since it passed nearly a decade ago.
Allen was more cautious in answering a similar question about his running mate, lieutenant governor nominee Michael Farris, who comes from the Christian conservative wing of the party. Farris has a strong anti-abortion position and cites studies indicating a link between abortion and breast cancer not widely accepted in the medical community.
"We may not agree on every issue, but so what?" Allen said.
He pointed out that Terry's disagreements with Clinton didn't keep her from "sipping wine and nibbling cheese with Hillary Clinton" at a recent Washington fund-raiser for Terry's campaign.
Allen tried to paint Terry as a captive of special interests, acknowledging that she has 10 times more money to spend for the fall campaign.
"I haven't had the opportunity to shake down all the special interests," Allen said. "We're not going to be able to run ads like you" in the fall.
The talk of money led both politicians to cautiously embrace campaign finance reforms, but each balked when a panel of reporters repeatedly urged them to adopt voluntarily a $10,000 cap on individual contributions. Terry and Allen have donors who would exceed such a cap.
"That's unilateral disarmament," Allen said, noting his relatively impoverished bank account. Allen had $288,000 in campaign funds compared with Terry's $2.7 million, according to reports filed last month.
But both candidates agreed to a 10 percent voluntary reduction in the governor's annual $108,000 salary if elected.
Armed with statistics and prepared one-liners, the pair continued their war over who is the toughest on crime, from drunken driving to gun control to parole reform.
But the debate over those issues produced no new positions. Both favor lowering the level of blood alcohol needed for drunken-driving convictions.
Terry said the five-day waiting period for handgun purchases could improve economic development by reducing crime, improving the environment in schools and reducing health-care costs.
Allen said eliminating the state's parole law would be more effective, claiming three of four violent crimes are committed by repeat offenders.
Allen and Terry also held their ground on the pending suit of federal retirees seeking refunds from the state for taxes on their pensions. In June, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Virginia unconstitutionally taxed federal pensions but not those of state retirees.
Terry maintains the state should not pay until it pursues a potential loophole that could make refunds unnecessary. The case is back in Alexandria Circuit Court. A judge will decide if the state has adequate procedures allowing citizen to withhold taxes while challenging tax laws.
Allen wants the state to settle the case, arguing that the cost of the rebates - estimated as high as $460 million - will grow as the case lingers in court.
Neither candidate mentioned more road building or school disparity - two high-dollar items likely to face the state in the next year - or the environment.
Saturday's debate, the second meeting between the two candidates, was livelier than their first meeting three weeks ago in Virginia Beach, said University of Virginia political science professor Larry Sabato.
That was partly because this time the candidates spent at least part of their time directly questioning each other, mainly on the issue of sincerity.
Terry called Allen's promise to veto general tax increases "politics as usual," noting he had sponsored a bill to raise taxes as a member of the General Assembly.
Allen called Terry's proposed waiting period for handgun purchases an "election-year gimmick," pointing out that she said in January that she was not ready to support such a law.
Allen charged after the debate Saturday that Terry reneged on a promise for seven more debates starting after Labor Day.
In his closing statement, Allen proposed debates in each of the seven television markets and charged across the stage telling Terry "We'll shake on it."
Terry shook his hand, but said nothing. Later, she said it was not an acceptance of the challenge. "We'll negotiate for more debates," she said.
Allen grumbled as he left the drawing room where the debate was held, that "among honorable people, a handshake should be enough."
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB