Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 18, 1995 TAG: 9503200023
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
His performance illustrated a leadership style that critics say is wishy-washy but supporters view as thoughtful and pragmatic.
Beyer, the only Democrat elected to statewide office in 1993, is the party's likely nominee for governor in 1997. However, University of Virginia political analyst Larry Sabato said Beyer's stock has fallen.
``He is no longer the golden boy,'' Sabato said.
He said some Democratic activists were disappointed that Beyer was not more aggressive in fighting the Republican governor's proposals to cut taxes and state spending. Democratic legislators did the dirty work and - with Allen's proposals all but dead - Beyer finally spoke against the cuts at a public hearing.
There have been rumblings about Democratic opposition for Beyer in two years, ``but in the end, it may fizzle,'' Sabato said.
One of those mentioned, House Majority Leader Richard Cranwell of Roanoke County said he will not run. ``I support Don Beyer 100 percent,'' said Cranwell, leader of the anti-Allen brigade during the '95 session.
State Democratic Party Chairman Mark Warner said Beyer played an important and appropriate role during the legislative session.
``I think Don Beyer, the party and others worked very closely with legislators in this whole process of how we would respond to the governor's proposals,'' Warner said.
Beyer's detractors gave him the nickname ``Donnie come lately'' for his response to the Allen plan.
``If that's the worst they call me, I'm pretty lucky,'' Beyer said.
He said the criticism is unfair, but that he's thick-skinned enough to take it.
Beyer said during the legislative session that he was sharing his concerns about the Allen proposals with anyone who asked, but added: ``I have a very different bully pulpit than the governor.''
A factor in the way Beyer reacts to politically charged issues, Sabato said, is that ``he is not confrontational by nature and not a tough partisan. It's hard to change your very nature.''
Indeed, Beyer is widely regarded as one of the nice guys of Virginia politics - although he showed in his 1993 re-election campaign against Republican Michael Farris that he can brawl when his job is on the line.
``I'm not a bomb-thrower and I don't want to be,'' said Beyer.
``People say they are tired of mean-spirited politics,'' Warner said. ``When an individual like Don Beyer comes around, people see it as a nice change. He is someone who works to build consensus and is willing to roll up his sleeves and get involved in the details of the process.''
That propensity was demonstrated in the late-session negotiations on welfare reform - an issue a Beyer-led commission began grappling with years ago. On the final day, the assembly passed a bill that included elements from a Democrat-backed plan and one pushed by Allen.
Sabato said Beyer's efforts could backfire by alienating black voters. The General Assembly's black caucus opposed the compromise.
``It certainly might hurt him a little bit in getting support from some segments of the population,'' said Sen. Benjamin Lambert, D-Richmond, a member of the black caucus. ``I was not personally upset with him. I think he did all he could do.''
Said Beyer: ``The leaders of the black caucus were involved in the discussion all the way through. I know the final product wasn't what they wanted. But they had a place at the table throughout the long discussions.''
Even if some blacks were perturbed by Beyer's role in welfare reform, he has plenty of time to make amends before the '97 election. There will be another General Assembly session before then, and the state races also could be influenced by how the Republican Congress and the Democratic White House fare in the interim.
Beyer, who owns a Volvo dealership in Falls Church, could become Virginia's first non-lawyer governor in 44 years. Allen is barred by the state Constitution from seeking a second term. Beyer's likely GOP opponent would be Attorney General Jim Gilmore.
Beyer said he believes having a businessman as governor ``would have enormous advantages.'' As a private-sector boss, Beyer said, he has learned how to manage a work force.
He said Virginians probably will like the idea of having a non-lawyer in the governor's office, but he won't try to make it a big campaign issue.
by CNB