THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, June 9, 1995 TAG: 9506090525
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ALEX MARSHALL, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 134 lines
The leader of a state anti-gambling group said Thursday he will continue to support the bid of Levi E. Willis II to unseat Del. Jerrauld C. Jones, despite the financial troubles of Willis Broadcasting detailed in Thursday's Virginian-Pilot and Ledger-Star.
William W. Kincaid of Virginians Deserve Better in Richmond said his principal interest was defeating the most effective spokesman for riverboat gambling. To that end, Kincaid said he has organized a coalition of anti-abortion, anti-gun control and anti-union groups to defeat Jones in Tuesday's Democratic primary.
``It would be a great benefit if Jerrauld would not come back,'' Kincaid said. ``For three years, he's been the patron of the riverboat gambling bill. I dare say, he has done very well. He is articulate, he is capable. I wish he would do something else with his capabilities.''
Thursday's story listed individuals and companies who were owed hundreds of thousands of dollars by Willis Broadcasting. Many had won court judgments against the company but had still not been repaid. Several individuals have personally lent the company money. One couple wona judgment of nearly $170,000.
Bishop L.E. Willis is sole owner and director of Willis Broadcasting and his son, Levi E. Willis II, is vice president. The younger Willis is running against Del. Jerrauld C. Jones to win the Democratic primary Tuesday in the 89th House District.
The 89th District includes many of Norfolk's older neighborhoods such as Ghent Square, Park Place, Ballentine, Lindenwood, Berkley, Rosemont and Young Park.
With no other candidates filing, the winner of the primary is set to be the winner of the seat.
On Thursday, the elder Willis, speaking on his afternoon radio show on WPCE-AM, said the newspaper had conspired to damage his son's political campaign. The elder Willis is his son's campaign manager.
``The newspaper has developed an attitude that is negative and unfair,'' Willis said on the airwaves.
Many of the debts listed in Thursday's story, Willis said, have been paid or will soon be paid. The debts were accumulated because money was stolen from the station several years ago, Willis said. His son, Willis said, knew little about the station's business troubles.
``There is light at the end of the tunnel,'' Willis said. ``We are operating and we are paying our debts.''
Kincaid said the financial troubles Willis is experiencing do not shake his support of Willis' candidacy.
``We have our eyes wide open,'' Kincaid said. ``We knew that there were some problems the Bishop had. We weren't sure of the extent of them, but we are certainly committed to still support Levi's candidacy.''
Kincaid is the husband of Anne Kincaid, a prominent anti-abortion activist now on the staff of Gov. George Allen. Anne Kincaid was state coordinator of Pat Robertson's 1988 presidential campaign.
``I can't stand in judgment and won't,'' William Kincaid said. ``In today's world, there are businesses every day that have problems with big debt. That's a business issue, not a moral issue.''
Kincaid said he has been working with groups in Hampton Roads and around the state to turn out a vote against Jones. Kincaid said he encourages Republicans, Independents and anyone else to vote in this Democratic primary against Jones.
Beside working to legalize riverboat gambling, Jones has also consistently voted in favor of gun control, unions and the right to abortions. Kincaid said he was working with groups opposed to these issues to turn out an anti-Jones vote.
The leader of a state anti-gambling group said Thursday he will continue to support the bid of Levi E. Willis II to unseat Del. Jerrauld C. Jones, despite the financial troubles of Willis Broadcasting detailed in Thursday's Virginian-Pilot and Ledger-Star.
William W. Kincaid of Virginians Deserve Better in Richmond said his principal interest was defeating the most effective spokesman for riverboat gambling. To that end, Kincaid said he has organized a coalition of anti-abortion, anti-gun control and anti-union groups to defeat Jones in Tuesday's Democratic primary.
``It would be a great benefit if Jerrauld would not come back,'' Kincaid said. ``For three years, he's been the patron of the riverboat gambling bill. I dare say, he has done very well. He is articulate, he is capable. I wish he would do something else with his capabilities.''
Thursday's story listed individuals and companies who were owed hundreds of thousands of dollars by Willis Broadcasting. Many had won court judgments against the company but had still not been repaid. Several individuals have personally lent the company money. One couple won a judgment of nearly $170,000.
Bishop L.E. Willis is sole owner and director of Willis Broadcasting and his son, Levi E. Willis II, is vice president. The younger Willis is running against Del. Jerrauld C. Jones to win the Democratic primary Tuesday in the 89th House District.
The 89th District includes many of Norfolk's older neighborhoods such as Ghent Square, Park Place, Ballentine, Lindenwood, Berkley, Rosemont and Young Park.
With no other candidates filing, the winner of the primary is set to be the winner of the seat.
On Thursday, the elder Willis, speaking on his afternoon radio show on WPCE-AM, said the newspaper had conspired to damage his son's political campaign. The elder Willis is his son's campaign manager.
``The newspaper has developed an attitude that is negative and unfair,'' Willis said on the airwaves.
Many of the debts listed in Thursday's story, Willis said, have been paid or will soon be paid. The debts were accumulated because money was stolen from the station several years ago, Willis said. His son, Willis said, knew little about the station's business troubles.
``There is light at the end of the tunnel,'' Willis said. ``We are operating and we are paying our debts.''
Kincaid said the financial troubles Willis is experiencing do not shake his support of Willis' candidacy.
``We have our eyes wide open,'' Kincaid said. ``We knew that there were some problems the Bishop had. We weren't sure of the extent of them, but we are certainly committed to still support Levi's candidacy.''
Kincaid is the husband of Anne Kincaid, a prominent anti-abortion activist now on the staff of Gov. George Allen. Anne Kincaid was state coordinator of Pat Robertson's 1988 presidential campaign.
``I can't stand in judgment and won't,'' William Kincaid said. ``In today's world, there are businesses every day that have problems with big debt. That's a business issue, not a moral issue.''
Kincaid said he has been working with groups in Hampton Roads and around the state to turn out a vote against Jones. Kincaid said he encourages Republicans, Independents and anyone else to vote in this Democratic primary against Jones.
Beside working to legalize riverboat gambling, Jones has also consistently voted in favor of gun control, unions and the right to abortions. Kincaid said he was working with groups opposed to these issues to turn out an anti-Jones vote. ILLUSTRATION: Color photos
Levi E. Willis II, above, will try to unseat Del. Jerrauld C. Jones,
below, in Tuesday's Democratic primary.
KEYWORDS: DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY PRIMARY ELECTIONS
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