
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, May 27, 1993                   TAG: 9305270230
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

WILLIAMS SAYS GOP NEEDS TO PURSUE `INDEPENDENTS, DISAFFECTED DEMOCRATS'

Republican gubernatorial hopeful Earle Williams tried to differentiate himself from the GOP's other hopefuls and Democratic nominee Mary Sue Terry when he spoke to the Montgomery County Republican party Wednesday afternoon.

"We're going to have to reach the independents and the disaffected Democrats," said Williams, 63, the retired president and chief executive officer of a Northern Virginia technology company, BDM International of McLean.

"We have to offer them a clear choice, a contrast to Mary Sue Terry. We need to give them someone who will make them stand up and say `whoa.' "

Williams, speaking at the monthly luncheon of the Montgomery County Republican Party at the Red Lion Inn, rattled off how he also differed from fellow Republican nomination seekers George Allen and Clinton Miller.

Williams said he was an engineer with experience in business and was not planning on seeking any other elected office after 1993.

He also said he was the only candidate with extensive experience as a chief executive and in working to bring about real world solutions to problems in education, economic development and transportation, the three main issues of the campaign.

Conversely, Williams portrayed the others seeking the governor's office as lawyers and career politicians who have had limited experience as chief executives and virtually no record in solving problems.

The only one of those issues Williams addressed directly was education.

"From all around the world, people come here to go to college," Williams said. "We have a first class [higher] education system because of competition. Competition will make the schools better. It will be as good for the public sector as it is for the private sector."

Williams also wanted to clarify his position on educational tax credits. He said his proposed credit would apply to parents sending their children to private schools as well as home schooling.

Williams said an editorial in Tuesday's Roanoke Times & World-News left the impression that the tax credit would apply only to home schooling.

Many of the 50 people at the luncheon support Allen, the front-runner for the nomination. Three "Allen for Governor" posters were on the walls where Williams spoke, including one directly above Williams' head as he spoke.

"Someone came up to me and asked me about speaking on the someone else's turf," said Williams. "That's good. I don't want to go where they already support me. Here I have a chance to gain some support."

Keywords:
POLITICS

by CNB