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

DATE: THURSDAY, October 7, 1993                   TAG: 9310070337
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Richmond bureau
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Medium

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION: PAROLE

The major-party candidates for governor continued their television commercial debate over parole Wednesday, as a new Mary Sue Terry ad accused George Allen of doing "zero on parole" during nine years in the House of Delegates.

Allen, meanwhile, went on the air with a commercial in which former Albemerle County Sheriff George Bailey hails Allen's plan to abolish parole for violent criminals and calls him "our best hope for honest change."

Bailey, a former Democrat, is pictured seated on a front porch and wearing a plaid workshirt as he delivers a quiet, folksy appeal for the GOP nominee.

"Just look at their plans on crime," he says. "Under Terry's, the prison term of a rapist could be as little as three years. Allen will keep them behind bars at least seven."

The two candidates have spent much of the summer and fall arguing over whose parole reform program would be tougher on convicts. While Allen wants to abolish parole for violent criminals, Terry argues that new restrictions she would place on parole eligibility could result in longer sentences for those criminals than would be provided under Allen's plan.

The new Terry ad, which campaign spokesman Jay Marlin said is playing in most areas of the state, responds to an Allen commercial on parole that has been airing for about a week.

As the screen shows the front of the state capitol, a narrator recounts that Allen served in the House for nine years and asks: "How many bills did George Allen introduce to toughen parole?

"None. Zero. Not one on parole," the narrator continues.

The commercial ends with Allen's picture on the screen and the word "ZERO" underneath it in capital letters.

Allen spokesman Ken Stroupe conceded that his boss had not introduced parole reform legislation while in the House. But Terry didn't introduce or support gun-control bills either, he noted.

The first televised debate between gubernatorial candidates George Allen and Mary Sue Terry will be tonight. The hour-long debate will air on WSET-TV (Channel 13) at 7:30 p.m. Allen and Terry have scheduled two other televised debates, Tuesday and Oct. 18.

Keywords:
POLITICS

by CNB