Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, January 14, 1993 TAG: 9301140268
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Ray Reed
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
FINANCIAL EXPERIENCE: FUND RAISING
Q: I'm interested in the background of Jacqueline Epps and what qualifies her to be chairwoman of the Virginia Retirement System trustees. I've heard that she's a friend of Gov. Douglas Wilder, and I'm wondering if she has a degree in economics or what sort of financial expertise she has. P.S., VintonA: Jacqueline Epps is a Richmond lawyer. Apparently her financial expertise relates mostly to raising funds for Wilder's political campaigns, particularly for lieutenant governor in 1985. She and the governor have attended social events together occasionally but not regularly.
Any question regarding the Virginia Retirement System provokes a suspicion in political circles of being intended as fuel for the political controversy over Wilder's failed attempt to put a Redskins stadium in an Alexandria rail yard the retirement system owns.
You gave assurances your question is based on nothing more than your contributions to the retirement system as a state employee, and you give good reason to believe the inquiry isn't politically motivated.
Here's the available background on Epps: born in Buffalo, N.Y.; bachelor of arts degree from Howard University 1969; law degree from Rutgers 1972; lawyer in the Air Force 1974-78; assistant commonwealth's attorney in Newport News 1978-82; assistant attorney general under Gerald Baliles 1982-86; a founder of the Richmond law firm Morris & Morris in 1989.
Politically, Epps is a protege of Wilder, stemming from her wish to see him elected lieutenant governor. Starting with no knowledge of fund raising but with a network of professional friends, she put together a Richmond fund-raising dinner that netted $15,000, the biggest chunk of cash in the fledgling stage of Wilder's 1985 campaign.
She was a vital but unseen cog in the campaign's finances after that, organizing one reception after another, and some outside Virginia.
Her appointment to the retirement system's board had the appearance of routine political patronage to a job with a low public profile, but a dispute over legal fees paid to a New York lawyer puts her on the nose of a political football.
Not-so-healthy snack
Q: Which is the healthier food, pretzels or potato chips? M.M., Roanoke
A: Pretzels are a sensible diet item, except perhaps for the salt.
Potato chips are high in fat, calories and sodium. They're not good for you, but they taste good. A 1-ounce serving - about a dozen chips - has 150 calories, 10 grams of fat and only about 3 percent of nutrition needs. In terms of heart health and diet, chips are a no-no.
Pretzels are made of wheat dough and baked. They even come in whole wheat and unsalted. Pretzels have about 1 gram of fat per ounce and are high in carbohydrates. But they're a lot less popular than potato chips.
Eye-catching business
Q: What's the story on that teepee on Williamson Road in the 4000 block? F.S., Roanoke
A: That's part of a new business called Earth & Sky, which sells buckskin products and Native American items in an adjacent building. It still didn't have a phone as of a couple of days ago, but the teepee is an eye-catcher.
Got a question about something that might affect other people too? Something you've come across and wondered about? Give us a call at 981-3118. Maybe we can find the answer.