Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, July 2, 1993 TAG: 9307020086
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: WARREN FISKE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
The debates, the first of the campaign, were to be sponsored by the Virginia Press Association, an organization of state newspaper editors and publishers, and held in Virginia Beach.
The press group had adopted an unusual format for the debates, calling for the candidates to question one another rather than field inquiries from a moderator or panel of journalists.
Democratic gubernatorial nominee Mary Sue Terry agreed to a VPA debate with Republican George Allen on July 10 after negotiating several changes in the format.
Lt. Gov. Don Beyer chose not participate because he believes it is too early in the campaign season for debates, according to an aide, Gail Nardi.
"People don't need a five-month campaign," Nardi said.
Beyer participated in a VPA-sponsored debate at about this time in his 1989 campaign. He couldn't be reached for comment Thursday.
Nardi said she "expects" Beyer to participate in debates this fall with Republican Michael Farris.
William Dolan, the Democratic nominee for attorney general, cited a family commitment in his refusal to debate Republican James Gilmore.
Ginger Stanley, executive manager of the VPA, said she was surprised by Beyer's and Dolan's refusals.
"I had no indications that they would not come," Stanley said. Both appeared eager to participate during months of negotiations, she added, and Nardi promised on the phone this spring that "we'll be there."
Nardi said there was a "misunderstanding" if the VPA believed Beyer was committed to the debate. She said she told Stanley in a phone call in June that the lieutenant governor had not promised to participate.
Aides to Farris and Gilmore said their candidates will accept VPA invitations to speak and take questions from the editors and publishers during their meeting.
" `Big Debt Don' is now `Duck Debate Don,' too," said Rebecca Hagelin, Farris' press secretary. Farris has been referring to Beyer as "Big Debt Don" in campaign speeches.
Gilmore suggested that Dolan declined to debate because he does not want to answer questions about legal fees he charged the state for prosecuting former Norfolk Judge Joseph Campbell and about Dolan's relationship with organized labor. Last week, the AFL-CIO endorsed Dolan, and Gilmore questions whether that means he's soft on laws that limit union activity.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB