ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, February 5, 1996 TAG: 9602050022
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: WARREN FISKE STAFF WRITER
With the backing of Gov. George Allen, Del. Randy Forbes of Chesapeake appears to have wrapped up election this spring as chairman of the state Republican Party.
In fact, Forbes likely will be unopposed for the post when the GOP elects a chairman at a state convention in Salem at the end of May. Allen's strong support has warded off two potential opponents - Kay Cole James, a former member of the governor's Cabinet and newly named dean of the School of Government at Pat Robertson's Regent University; and James Chapman, a Virginia Beach lawyer and unsuccessful candidate for Congress.
Several GOP activists said the mild-mannered Forbes appears to be the ideal person to help unite the often warring evangelical and moderate wings of the party. He is being supported by both groups.
Forbes considers himself a Christian conservative and has solidly supported that wing on bellwether issues such as abortion. But he also has built a reputation as a pragmatic and approachable legislator, which many moderates say puts their minds at ease.
Forbes acknowledges that achieving party unity will be the biggest challenge of the job. "I'm not wearing rose-colored glasses," he said.
"If it takes six turns to do something by persuasion or one turn to do it by intimidation, you'll see me take all six tries at persuasion, because that's ultimately how you change things."
If elected, Forbes would replace Patrick McSweeney, a Richmond lawyer who chose not to seek a second term as chairman. McSweeney's tenure was rocked two years ago by accusations that he tried to undermine Allen's 1993 gubernatorial campaign. Allen sought to oust McSweeney, but fell slightly short of the two-thirds vote needed. Some moderate Republicans also accused McSweeney of being heavy-handed.
Forbes, the GOP floor leader in the House of Delegates, is Allen's hand-picked candidate this year. He also is backed by Attorney General Jim Gilmore, who is expected to win the gubernatorial nomination next year.
Forbes recently acknowledged that exposure and connections from a four-year stint as party chairman could come in handy if he seeks higher political office in the future. "Any time you do a good job at something, you hope it will lead to something else," he said. "At this point, I don't know what that something else is."
LENGTH: Short : 50 lines KEYWORDS: POLITICSby CNB