Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, March 25, 1990                   TAG: 9003252058
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C6   EDITION: NEW RIVER 
SOURCE: PETER MATHEWS NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

BUSINESSMAN WINS GOP POST IN MONTGOMERY

Beamer, a Christiansburg insurance agent, polled 66 votes to 25 for Tom Gilmer, who recently retired as head of the physics department at Virginia Tech. Beamer replaces Blacksburg Town Council member Joyce Lewis as chairman.

Gilmer told party members that events in Eastern Europe show that Marxist socialism is bankrupt and prove that state-controlled economies don't work. Closer to home, he castigated Democrats for their "callous cover-up" of the state's money problems during the Baliles administration.

Beamer, 32, attributed his win to a desire for new blood in the organization.

"The people are looking for someone a little bit younger that represents a younger generation," he said. "They're looking for a little bit of a change."

Beamer drew support from county Treasurer Ellis Meredith, who nominated him, and Sam Obenshain, who seconded the nomination. Meredith cited Beamer's hard work for local candidates and in fund raising; Obenshain joked that the tall and solidly built Beamer would offer the party "a big chairman. When he stands up no one is going to question him."

"He's gonna shake the trees and the branches and the fruit's gonna fall," said GOP activist George Bell. "The guy's a leader."

Beamer said Charles Johnson's strong showing against Del. Joan Munford last November - he got more than 48 percent of the vote - helped rejuvenate the party. "Charlie brought us back to life. Last year at this time, nobody believed he could win."

The GOP picked up an open seat in the neighboring 12th House District when Tommy Baker defeated Carole Pratt.

The party must convince voters that local Democrats' seniority in the legislature does not necessarily translate into effectiveness, he said.

During the mass meeting Saturday at the county courthouse, the Republicans also elected delegates to the 9th District convention, which will be June 9 in Wytheville.