Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, April 20, 1991 TAG: 9104200357
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: KATHY LOAN/ NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Terry spent Thursday and Friday at Virginia Tech, in Galax and the counties of Grayson and Smyth talking to officials about their concerns before being guest Friday night at a Montgomery County Democratic Party dinner.
What she heard, she said, was "a drumbeat in this part of the state" for economic development and jobs.
Montgomery County and its neighbors in the 9th Congressional District must find ways to provide opportunities "for young people to come home after they've been educated" to available housing and jobs, good education systems for their children and a clean environment.
She cautioned that although the 9th District now encompasses about 25 percent of the land mass of the state - and is to get larger with redistricting - each square-mile increase "leads to a dilution of power" for elected officials.
Terry did not make any official announcement of candidacy for the governorship, but did allude to plans for higher office.
She said she looked forward to a Democratic campaign stop in Christiansburg the weekend before the November 1993 election like the ones she made in 1985 and 1989.
"Somebody else is running for my job" as attorney general, she said.
That somebody else was in the audience Friday - William Dolan, an Arlington lawyer.
Dolan, chairman of the state Board for Community Colleges, spoke briefly, saying he was "expressing my interest in the attorney general's office in the event there is a vacancy" and that Terry "has decided she's had enough of it."
Other possible Democratic candidates for attorney general are Del. Howard Copeland of Norfolk and Larry Framme, state secretary of economic development.
Dolan said the destructive attitude of regionalism throughout the state must end. While the common good is best served by diversity, localities must come together on key issues such as education, he said.
Terry was greeted upon her arrival at Christiansburg Middle School for the potluck dinner by seven demonstrators. The group silently held up posters decrying her actions on civil rights issues such as the VMI sex discrimination lawsuit and her refusal to grant a new trial for convicted murderer Joseph Giarratano.
Ruth Steinberger, organizer of the protest, said Terry has "played the courts as a political arena."
"There are a lot of people who don't feel the best way to move her out is to move her up. And we do not want her as a candidate for governor," Steinberger said.
In February, Gov. Douglas Wilder commuted Giarratano's death sentence to 25 years in prison. Giarratano had hoped, and the governor had recommended, that he receive a new trial. But the day after Wilder granted the conditional pardon, Terry rejected the governor's suggestion.
Steinberger, who works as an illustrator in Christiansburg and lives in Floyd County, carried a sign that accused Terry of having "a record of incompetence." Other signs read: "Mary Sue Terror," "New Trial for Joe" and `Defender of Discrimination." Terry shook hands with each demonstrator before entering the school.
"I think it's important for people to be able to do that," Terry said of the demonstrators.
Another demonstrator, Steve Helm of Christiansburg said Terry has `'taken the politically safe position of standing behind Wilder" in cases such as VMI instead of taking the lead on crucial issues that face her office.
by CNB