Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, February 15, 1993 TAG: 9302150294
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
BOBBIE KILBERG RUNNING FOR SECOND BANANA
IF THERE'S anything that seems to interest Virginians less than an inner-party contest for second-banana spot on the statewide ticket, we'd be hard pressed to name it. Especially in a year when conventional wisdom has it that the other party's incumbent second banana is a shoo-in for re-election.But Virginians should take a close look at Bobbie Kilberg of McLean, a former official in the Bush White House who is seeking the GOP nomination for lieutenant governor.
Kilberg, mother of five and graduate of Vassar College, Columbia University and Yale Law School, made an impressive showing in a 1987 bid for the state Senate. Until recently, she was Bush's deputy assistant for government affairs - where she worked with local and state officials on numerous issues.
It is on such issues as jobs, economic development, health care, education and crime that Kilberg, a moderate conservative, hopes to challenge, generally, the Democrats' 12-year hold on all statewide offices - and, specifically, Lt. Gov. Don Beyer's track record.
Meantime, she is opposed for the nomination by Michael Farris, a Loudoun County attorney.
Farris seems to be basing his campaign on social issues, such as abortion, and at least a measure of his support comes from the religious right. Kilberg already has been attacked by Farris supporters as "anti-family" and "pro-abortion." She has been attacked, too, for once inviting gay-rights supporters to the White House for a bill-signing ceremony with President Bush.
Kilberg says she personally opposes abortion but believes the decision should be left to women. She urges in any case that such social litmus-test issues - which often have divided Republicans - should not again be the focus of the GOP's statewide campaign.
She believes that Virginia faces other important concerns - jobs, economic development, health care, education and violent crime being a few. She believes Virginia voters want this year's candidates to address such concerns. State Republicans would be smart to listen to her.
We make no brief for Kilberg's nomination, or election. But it's healthy to have a strong two-party system in which both Democrats and Republicans field well-qualified candidates who look beyond rigid, narrow agendas to the issues affecting most Virginians. For the GOP, struggling with its statewide tickets for years, Kilberg is a notable find.