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

DATE: SUNDAY, May 20, 1990                   TAG: 9005200080
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: ROB EURE POLITICAL WRITER
DATELINE: TROUTVILLE                                LENGTH: Medium

HOME DISTRICT FIRNLY BEHIND HUFFMAN AS GOP CHIEF

At its district convention, Huffman's home district gave him overwhelming backing as it squashed two resolutions aimed at toppling party leaders.

The Republican convention, as expected, nominated no candidate to challenge Democratic Rep. James Olin of Roanoke in his re-election bid this fall.

Instead, business centered on divisions within the party caused by revelations of financial blunders from 1987 to 1989 at the state headquarters in Richmond. Those mistakes included some $240,000 in unpaid federal taxes interest and penalties, embezzlement of $1,600 by a former bookkeeper and bounced checks costing more than $4,700.

Last weekend, Republicans at the 5th District convention adopted a resolution calling for the resignations of Huffman, GOP executive director Joe Elton, treasurer William Hurd and budget director John Eanes. But a similar resolution was shouted down by an overwhelming majority of the 118 delegates at Saturday's 6th District meeting. The group also rejected a weaker version that called for resignations of Elton and Hurd.

"I think it signaled that a lot of folks are tired of this . . . fighting," said 6th District Chairman Don Duncan. "That doesn't mean a lot of people aren't upset over what went on. But we've just had it" with the public feuding.

During debate on the two motions aimed at party leaders, a number of speakers warned that the public calls for firings and resignations threatens to destroy the party.

"The only way to stop the statewide embarrassment is to defeat resolutions like this," said Mark Obenshain of Rockingham County, whose father, the late Richard Obenshain, built the modern Republican Party in Virginia.

H.T Grindstaff of Botetourt argued that the resolutions against the party leadership would add to negative party publicity and become "food for the ravenous beasts trying to destroy us."

Several dozen of the Republicans Saturday backed at least the weaker of the two resolutions calling for ousters. The convention's resolutions committee recommended passage of the one seeking the resignations of Elton and Hurd.

"I don't like the bloodletting, but something has got to be done," said David Nixon, a former Roanoke chairman. "We are the laughingstock of the state."

Nixon said he does not hold Huffman responsible for the mishaps because he lives three hours away from Richmond, but argued that Hurd, who lives in the Richmond suburbs, and Elton should have had day-to-day control of the party's finances.

"We used to get 118 to the city Republican meetings," said Marjorie Seymour, another former Roanoke chair. "We are a sick party. We have to do something and this resolution really does something."

But the convention cheered Lucy Lee Wilkins, a member of the state central committee from Lynchburg, when she charged that Republicans after the party leaders are conducting "guerrilla warfare.

"I'm asking for fairness here," Wilkins said. "We're talking about people's reputations."

After the weaker resolution failed, the one calling for Huffman, Elton, Hurd and Eanes to quit fell quickly with a only handful of supporters.

Troy Horn, a retired teacher from Augusta, argued that a housecleaning is the only way "to restore the integrity of the Republican Party of Virginia. If you do not adopt it, you are giving those who would defeat us ammunition for four, six, maybe 10 or 15 years. The truth must come out."

The resolution praising Huffman also passed quickly, with a handful voting against it.

Huffman is out of the country for several weeks, but said just before he left that he plans to stay as chairman and keep the party's leadership team together.

Hugh Mulligan of Alexandria, the party's first vice chairman, told the group he is "mad as hell" at the resignation calls from some Republicans, including former officeholders and some current GOP state legislators.

"The press has never said a good thing about us," Mulligan said. "We need to keep our comments to ourselves."