Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 25, 1993 TAG: 9302250243
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
PARTY UNITY WILL GIVE GOP WIN, CANDIDATE SAYS
Bobbie Kilberg spoke of party unity and inclusiveness Wednesday.At the same time, the lawyer from McLean who is a Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, took a few swipes at the Democrats who hold the top three state offices and her competition.
Kilberg, who has been a party activist for the last 21 years and served Presidents Nixon, Ford and Bush in various capacities, made her remarks at the Montgomery County Republican Party's monthly luncheon attended by about 70 people.
"If we all pull together and come out of Richmond united and excited, we can win in the fall," Kilberg said.
Earlier, she had opened her speech by predicting the Republicans would sweep the top three state offices and gain control of the House of Delegates.
The issues Kilberg stressed were straightforward - economic development, educational improvement, crime prevention.
Proposing to take strong action in these areas - and not be quibbling over who should be in the party - is what Kilberg believed would lead the Republicans to victory in the fall.
"We need to welcome anyone into the Republican party who feels we need to work on these issues central to our lives," Kilberg said. "If we choose to decide who should be in the party based on a social issue litmus test, we will not win."
The test remarks were aimed at Mike Farris, Kilberg's opposition for the party nomination. Kilberg said Farris has stated that all the party needs is 50 percent plus one. Conversely, Kilberg believes the party must start with a broad base to get that majority.
Of course Kilberg also had plenty to say about the likely Democratic nominee, Lt. Gov. Don Beyer.
"When was the last time anybody saw Don Beyer?" she asked. The only positive response came from someone who had been in Richmond.
"Don Beyer loves to study things," Kilberg said. "He writes a lot of study commission reports, most of which the people in this room don't agree with. But the point is that he is very well-known to the policy people in the capital. But he is not well-known to the people."
Kilberg proposed helping small businesses and educators by reducing the regulation, which she said was strangling them. She said lottery revenues should be used for funding education throughout the state. And she stated her support for educational vouchers, noting that competition would increase the quality of public education.
Kilberg praised all three Republicans seeking the nomination for governor. She said all would be better than Mary Sue Terry, the former attorney general and the only announced Democratic candidate.
She also spoke highly of the proposals advocated by the Republican candidates for attorney general which would seek stronger punishment for criminals, particularly repeat offenders.