Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 29, 1993 TAG: 9309290249
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BY WARREN FISKE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
Beyer, the Democratic incumbent, accused Farris of being anti-woman, "too extreme for Virginia" and having "a career-long record of hostility to public education."
Farris, the Republican challenger, labeled Beyer a "religious bigot" who used family wealth to buy his way into public office.
Amid the sharp, personal rhetoric, the candidates staked out starkly different views on gun control, abortion and public education during an hour-long debate sponsored by the Richmond Jaycees. It was their first direct exchange.
Farris, an evangelical Christian from Purcellville in Loudoun County who has built a national law practice defending the rights of Christian parents to school their children at home, spent much of the evening explaining his writings critical of public schools.
Farris, who has called public schools a "Godless monstrosity," said he was given to unfortunate hyperbole in some of his works. In one book, Farris wrote that public schools are not essential to "the preservation of a democracy." He dismissed that statement Tuesday as "an editor's mistake."
Beyer fired back: "You're the only person I know who gets misquoted in his own books."
Farris, in return, took exception with Beyer's portrayal of him as an extremist. "I'd say the core of Don Beyer calling me names like extremist is really religious bigotry."
Beyer, a church-going Episcopalian, denied having made fun of Beyer's faith. "I'm not a religious bigot, Mike," he said. "That's the furthest thing from the truth."
Here's how the candidates argued various issues:
Women's Rights: Beyer said he opposes any new laws restricting abortion; Farris said he is "pro-life, without any room to waffle."
Beyer accused Farris of taking anti-female stands, referring to his opposition to abortion rights and his writings encouraging mothers to stay at home.
Gun Control: Beyer favored a five-day waiting period for handgun purchases. Farris opposed all gun restrictions.
Education: Farris favored a $2,000 tax credit for parents who send their children to private academies or educate them at home. He said public education can improve only through increased competition from private and home schools. Farris also said schools should teach creationism on equal footing with evolution, and he lambasted sex education programs.
Beyer said spending tax dollars of private education would undermine public education.
Debt: Farris accused Beyer of supporting programs that have expanded the state's debt. He also criticized Beyer for accepting loans of more than $1 million from his father during his 1989 campaign. Beyer has not retired the debt and Farris said Beyer's father is profiting handsomely from interest payments.
Beyer countered that Virginia has the nation's second-lowest per-capita debt rate, next to North Carolina. As for the money he owes his father, Beyer said: "I'm happy to report that I'm still on good terms with my creditor."
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB