Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 3, 1993 TAG: 9302030230
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BY ROB EURE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
GOP RIVALS FEUD OVER CAMPAIGN
With almost four months to go before their nominating convention, two Republican candidates for governor have taken their name-calling public, with accusations of campaigning on the public dole and attempts to buy the nomination.The increasingly personal exchanges escalated this week with claims by Northern Virginia businessman Earle Williams that former Rep. George Allen of Charlottesville used congressional perks last year to campaign for governor at taxpayer expense.
"The word I would use is `hypocrisy,' " said Williams' spokesman, Steve Haner, who faxed to reporters a list of Allen's congressional office expenses, some of which he hinted were campaign-related.
Williams' news release charged that while Allen characterized himself as a crusader against federal spending, he used his congressional office to send out mailings and perhaps make telephone calls for his gubernatorial campaign. In addition, the release said the office hired part-time employees who also worked to launch his campaign.
Haner said the Williams camp was responding to Allen's charges that Williams was trying to buy the nomination. Williams has lent his campaign $1.1 million.
"For two weeks we've heard about Earle spending his own money. I thought it was important to point out that we're just trying to keep up with a little congressional army," Haner said.
Allen's camp answered Tuesday that Williams, trailing in opinion polls, is becoming desperate. And, they began hinting Tuesday that they will respond in kind.
"If I were Earle Williams, I'd anticipate something coming up," said Jay Timmons, Allen's campaign spokesman. "He's one of the most insider of insiders and his record is likely to come to light."
The Williams release charges that Allen spent $44,000 for non-salary office expenses during July, August and September of last year - the most of any Virginian in Congress. It says the $20,614 in long-distance telephone bills that Allen's office rang up during the first nine months of 1992 might include campaign-related calling.
The Allen-for-governor campaign reported about $800 in calls during that period. "Hundreds of Republicans all over Virginia received three, four or more calls last spring and summer from Allen or his campaign staff - far more than $800 worth," Williams' release says.
It lists Allen as having sent out $1 million in pieces of mail under the congressional perk of free mail to constituents.
The attacks are escalating despite pleas from Republican state Chairman Patrick McSweeney to keep their rivalry civil.
Uninvolved in the latest spat is the third GOP candidate, Del. Clinton Miller of Woodstock.
In a separate matter, the Republicans have dropped one of four debates they planned for this month, so that the three candidates can meet privately with a handful of wealthy donors in Richmond.
"I want them to feel comfortable with our candidates long before the nomination process is over," said McSweeney, who organized the meeting set for Feb. 10. He said the private affair will involve "people who you've seen listed on our campaign reports through the years."
That leaves the three candidates with debates scheduled Feb. 12 at Virginia Beach, Feb. 13 in Abingdon and Feb. 16 in Richmond.
Keywords:
POLITICS