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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 8, 1993                   TAG: 9309080313
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO  
SOURCE: MIKE HUDSON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

ALLEN LINKS TERRY TO `SPECIAL INTERESTS'

In his attack on Terry, Allen noted that some of her biggest contributors are lawyers and law firms that have won millions of dollars in contracts with state agencies - legal work that was parceled out or overseen by Terry as state attorney general.

George Allen, the Republican candidate for governor, came to Roanoke on Tuesday and criticized his opponent for "shaking down special interests who want to curry favor" with state government.

He said his campaign is sending this message: "Virginians won't be bought - and Virginia government is not for sale."

Allen would not, however, disavow large "special interest" donations to his own campaign.

But he said he is listening to "regular people," while Democrat Mary Sue Terry is listening to people who are making $10,000 or $20,000 gifts to her campaign.

Terry has a big fund-raising lead on Allen - $3.8 million to $1.2 million as of July 15. Allen is trying to use that deficit to portray Terry as a tool of "special interests" and the state's "ruling party."

Jay Marlin, Terry's press secretary, said Allen's comments were ridiculous.

"For him to talk about special interest money is just outrageous," Marlin said.

He said Allen already has taken $38,000 "in laundered money" from the National Rifle Association The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported in May that these state-paid lawyers and firms had contributed $175,000 to Terry's campaign for governor. during this year's campaign and took $225,000 in "special-interest PAC money" when he ran for Congress.

Marlin said Terry is running a broad-based campaign; he said more than 10,000 of the 13,000-plus donations to Terry have been for less than $100.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported in May that these state-paid lawyers and firms had contributed $175,000 to Terry's campaign for governor.

Terry has said that the donations and legal business are not related.

Allen made his comments Tuesday night in front of about 40 people at a meeting organized by United We Stand America-Virginia. Campaign-finance reform is one of the top goals of the Ross Perot-inspired group.

Asked afterward if there was any "special interest" money he would refuse to accept, Allen did not answer yes or no.

He said, however, that he makes it clear to everyone that "I'm not selling seats on state boards" or other political favors to big contributors.

Asked if he was accusing his opponent of selling appointments or other favors, Allen simply reiterated that that is something he would not do.

Allen has received money from groups whose campaign donations have historically exerted a powerful influence over Virginia government.

As of the end of June, Allen and Republican operatives working with his campaign had received about $38,000 from gun-lobby groups and a political action committee financed in large part by the National Rifle Association.

When he was asked about gun control at Tuesday's forum, Allen said he favored getting tough on gun-wielding criminals over putting stricter limits on handgun sales.

Keywords:
POLITICS

Memo: ***CORRECTION***

by CNB