Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 14, 1993 TAG: 9302140156
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER SOUTHWEST BUREAU
DATELINE: ABINGDON LENGTH: Medium
WILLIAMS FIGHTS BACK IN DEBATE
Earle Williams used a forum for the three Republicans seeking their party's candidacy for governor Saturday to respond to criticisms from rival George Allen that Williams had contributed money to Democratic politicians.Williams, a Northern Virginia businessman who retired last year as head of BDM, a large defense contractor, said he had indeed contributed to what Allen called a "pet project" of Del. Ford Quillen, D-Gate City. That project was the Coalfield Economic Development Authority set up to provide the basics for new industry in Southwest Virginia, he said.
About 100 people came to hear Allen, a former state legislator and congressman; Del. Clinton Miller, R-Woodstock, in the legislature for 21 years, and Williams answer questions and talk about why they should be the GOP candidate.
Allen's campaign had mailed out a list of Democrats, including Quillen and U.S. Sen. Charles Robb, who got contributions from BDM's Political Action Committee. It said Williams and his wife also contributed $4,000 to Robb in 1988. The Williams campaign said the PAC was controlled by an employee committee and Williams had nothing to do with its contribution choices.
But it was the "pet project" reference that Williams concentrated on Saturday. Since Quillen has now said he will not seek re-election to the House of Delegates, Williams said, perhaps Allen will no longer object if Williams continues his support of the coalfield job-generating authority.
Ninth District GOP Chairman Jerry Kilgore, a former assistant U.S. attorney from Scott County, announced Saturday night that he would seek the party candidacy to run for Quillen's seat.
Williams also criticized Allen for voting, as a state legislator, against funding to four-lane U.S. 58 from Southwest Virginia to the coast.
Allen said he had concerns about the way the project was funded because he opposed the state going into long-term debt without voter approval and preferred objective engineering standards instead of politicians deciding road priorities.
Williams responded that Allen voted for more than 20 other bond issue bills, none of which required a referendum.
Miller called the U.S. 58 initiative one of the most important projects in the state, because it would ease transportation of Southwest Virginia products to Hampton Roads. He said he had worked for Republican support of the U.S. 58-funding legislation.
Miller also joined Williams in criticizing Allen for pledging to veto any proposed sales tax or income tax increase. Both said they also oppose tax increases but that it was irresponsible to take such a position without knowing what future financial problems the state might face.
State GOP chairman Patrick McSweeney issued a statement taking issue with an article in Saturday's Roanoke Times & World-News stating that Allen, the front-runner in the three-way race in terms of local party chairmen and based on a Mason-Dixon poll, finished third behind Williams and Miller in a straw vote among 20 party financiers at a meeting Wednesday in Richmond.
"From the discussion of the names and numbers of participants to the nature of the discussions, this story is substantially inaccurate," McSweeney said. "I am compelled to say that each of the candidates was well-received."
He declined to answer further questions, saying the meeting was a private gathering. But he did ask all three candidates to see if anyone on their staffs talked to the media about the meeting and, if so, strongly suggested dismissal.
Miller said his experience as a legislator and his work on consolidating and eliminating inefficiencies in state government made him the best candidate to take on probable Democratic contender, Mary Sue Terry. Terry recently resigned as attorney general to start her campaign.
Allen said he was best-suited to oppose her because he stood most firmly for conservative Republican principles. Williams said his business experience made him the best alternative to politics as usual and the best hope of generating new jobs in Virginia.
Keywords:
POLITICS