Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, January 10, 1993 TAG: 9301100107
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: D-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ROB EURE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RESTON LENGTH: Medium
ALLEN'S NO-TAX PLEDGE ATTACKED
George Allen's promise to veto any tax increase passed by the General Assembly is "the height of irresponsibility," Del. Clinton Miller, one of Allen's rivals for the Republican nomination for governor, charged Saturday.Miller said the pledge, a staple of Allen's stump speech, is "unreasonable" for a governor. "Certainly, you do everything possible to negate any kind of tax increase," but unforeseen events could force a tax raise.
Miller's attack came after he, Allen and the third GOP prospect, Earle Williams, spoke to an annual gathering of Republican leaders.
Allen, a former congressman from Charlottesville considered the front-runner in the nomination race, also took an attack from Williams. The retired business executive lectured Allen for claiming that he understands "the unwritten rules" of state government.
"If there's one thing that our Republican Party has long opposed, it's Richmond's unwritten rules," Williams told the 950 Republicans at the gathering.
"The unwritten rules . . . have denied Republicans fair representation on legislative committees. The unwritten rules . . . have prevented merit selection of judges," he said.
And "the unwritten rules," Williams argued, led Democrats in the legislature to redistrict Allen out of his congressional seat last year.
Allen said his reference was meant to reflect on Williams' lack of experience in state government. Before serving one year in Congress, Allen represented Albemarle County in the General Assembly for nine years.
Williams, whose well-financed campaign has begun to attract support in the past month, seemed to be viewed by the party leaders as most improved candidate. A millionaire who retired in May as chief executive of BDM Corp., a defense contractor in Northern Virginia, Williams spent the weekend entertaining with lavish evening receptions and a breakfast for participants Saturday.
He hopes to capitalize on anti-politician sentiment, offering "a clear choice between someone who has been on the public payroll for 16 years and someone who has been meeting a payroll for thousands of men and women for 20 years."
Williams, long active in GOP circles in Northern Virginia, was the local favorite at the meeting, but the underfinanced, poorly organized Miller displayed the skills that make him one of the legislature's best orators.
He urged the party leaders to keep open minds. "Lets show the people of Virginia that we have room for diversity of thought and ideas within our party. And that we have alternative approaches to the serious issues that face Virginia."
Keywords:
POLITICS