Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, February 12, 1993 TAG: 9302120158
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ROB EURE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
GEORGE ALLEN BLASTS RIVAL'S CONTRIBUTIONS
Republican gubernatorial hopeful George Allen is mailing party loyalists a brochure this week blasting rival Earle Williams for making financial contributions to Democrats.The mailing charges that Williams and the defense contracting firm he formerly headed, BDM Inc. of McLean, made regular gifts to Democratic candidates, including Virginia Democrats with Republican opposition.
"There are two tests for the nomination - party loyalty and party service," said Jay Timmons, Allen's campaign spokesman. "Earle Williams fails."
The mailing includes an almost yard-long list of Democrats who received money either from Williams or from BDM's political action committee.
Williams acknowledged making contributions to Democrats when he announced he was running for governor last spring. He argued that as a defense contractor, gifts to Democrats - who hold the majority in Congress - were necessary to do business.
"It's absolutely old stuff," said Williams' spokesman, Steve Haner. "The man has personally given $300,000 to Republicans from the courthouse to the White House, including a check to George Allen," when Allen ran for Congress in 1991. "But they don't mention that. Their ammo box is mighty thin."
Haner said the BDM political action committee was employee-operated and Williams had little control over its contributions. He noted also that in many instances, Williams' larger contributions to Republicans were not noted on the list of Democrats who received money.
For instance, the Allen letter says Williams contributed $2,500 to Democratic Lt. Gov. Don Beyer in 1989. Haner said it omits Williams' $6,500 contribution to Republican candidate Eddy Dalton, or that the Dalton money was given during the campaign and Beyer's gift made after he won.
"I didn't hear George Allen complain when Earle was financial chairman of the George Bush re-election campaign last year," Haner said.
In a separate Republican nomination battle, Del. Steven Agee of Salem on Thursday challenged his opponent for the attorney general nomination. Agee wants to debate Henrico County prosector James Gilmore at the March 12 GOP State Central Committee meeting in Roanoke.
"Virginia Republicans should test drive their attorney general candidates," Agee said. "And a debate is one way to distinguish between the candidates."
Keywords:
POLITICS