Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, June 5, 1990 TAG: 9006050441
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JIM FERRIERA
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Brought to you by the same newspaper that called for the firing of National Republican Chairman Lee Atwater because of a letter referring to House Speaker Tom Foley as an out-of-the-closet liberal and comparing his voting record to that of Congressman Barney Frank (D-Mass). It was a letter that Atwater didn't write. The paper's advice was to fire the national chairman.
When Doug Wilder denied he owned slum property and said he had sold it, but hadn't; collected speaking fees in Virginia from Virginians while lieutenant governor, something never before done by a high state official; and sponsored a bill in the General Assembly to benefit a law client so that the client wouldn't sue him - the editorial writers called all of these foibles, and endorsed him for governor.
When Mary Sue Terry missed three court dates in Montgomery County, losing the commonwealth $285,000 in tax money, the paper said whoops and endorsed her for re-election as attorney general.
Now, after the paper received stolen documents from someone who has neither good government nor good management in mind, two editorials are written that ignore the basic facts and call for state Chairman Don Huffman's resignation.
Let's put this in proper perspective. The paper has nice people, but they know very little about, and care even less about, the Republican Party of Virginia.
This party has been victimized first by a bookkeeper who lied to party officials, embezzled money, and didn't use the money we had to pay our taxes. Now, we have been victimized by some sorry S.O.B. who stole confidential documents and mailed them to the press for his own selfish agenda.
That person (or persons) has no place in the Republican Party of Virginia.
To date, the Republican Party of Virginia has implemented about three-fourths of the recommendations made by the State Central Committee, the Audit Committee and our newly hired accounting firm.
For example, our payroll is currently being handled by an outside data-processing company; monthly bank statements are now being sent directly to the state chairman, executive director, budget director and treasurer.
All correspondence from the Internal Revenue Service and Virginia Department of Taxation will go directly to the executive director with a copy to the treasurer.
A permanent audit committee, with First Vice-Chairman Hugh Mulligan as chairman, has been established to report to the Executive and State Central committees.
These are just a few of the many substantial controls that we have placed on our finances.
None of these changes will mean anything if a few members of the caucus and some past elected officials don't look at the facts themselves. We have many fine Republican leaders in the General Assembly, such as Dels. Jeff Stafford, Andy Guest and Steve Agee, and state Sens. Joe Benedetti and John Chichester, who want to work with and not control the party.
Everyone who really cares about the state Republican Party should have full confidence in the integrity and abilities of the leadership and paid employees. Marvin Bush has shown his confidence by agreeing to become our budget chairman.
John Eanes, budget director, has worked many long hours as a volunteer. Eanes continued to work on the "budget crisis" after his wife, Jane, suddenly died last fall. His commitment to the party should never be questioned.
Bill Hurd, another volunteer, has been accused of focusing on aspects other than his duties as treasurer. That charge is nonsense, as Hurd often has provided energy and constructive ideas.
Joe Elton is one of the best executive directors of any party in any state in this country. He provides a clear, calm voice with sound advice and works well in a job that has many - maybe too many - duties. Elton gives unselfishly of his personal time and also is a major financial contributor. The same can't be said for many of his critics.
The person who has taken the biggest hit during this whole affair is Don Huffman. Huffman is a good, decent man who works well with all factions of the party. He is a fair chairman and not afraid to appoint political adversaries to committees.
Huffman inherited a nearly bankrupt party and has increased the contributors list fivefold. If the Republican Party were looking for someone to lead us out of this problem, it would be smart to turn to a person who is fair, intelligent and has integrity. We don't have to look.
Huffman should stay as chairman of the Virgina Republican Party.
by CNB