Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, October 17, 1993 TAG: 9310170131
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C14 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BILL COCHRAN
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Behind her was a backdrop of supporters wearing Trebark camouflage and positioned so the TV cameras would take notice for the 6 o'clock news.
The Democratic candidate for governor was out to woo the votes of people who hold hunting, fishing and boating in high esteem, a prudent tact her party initiated 20 years ago under the leadership of Del. Vic Thomas of Roanoke.
But this time it has been the Republicans capitalizing on the theme. A group called the Commonwealth Sportsmen's Alliance has worked for George Allen for weeks, getting an immense amount of mileage from Terry's support for a five-day waiting period for buying a handgun.
One of the alliance's leaders is Jim Remington, a past executive director of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.
"Allen's entire background and mentality is one of having grown up hunting, fishing, canoeing and horseback riding, and he's always been an ally of that segment of our society," Remington said. "When I was head of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, I could always work with him in the General Assembly. He was always cordial, cooperative and supportive."
The Conservationists for Terry movement, unveiled last week, was a catch-up effort guided by Thomas, the longtime chairman of the House Conservation and Natural Resources Committee and a legislator widely known as "a friend of sportsmen."
As the Terry group was being put together, the mailboxes of many sportsmen across the state were being stuffed with a red, white and blue mailing from an old friend of Thomas, Wayne LaPierre, the executive vice president of the National Rifle Association. Enclosed was a bright red George Allen bumper sticker and a message from LaPierre saying, "Mary Sue's record on your right to own firearms is . . . appalling."
A Roanoke native, LaPierre was the first legislative aideThomas hired when he went to the General Assembly in 1974. This time the two are on opposite sides in their choice for governor, but not on the gun issue.
"I'm not in favor of the five-day waiting period," Thomas said. "That is one thing I disagree with her [Terry] on, but there are so many other things to consider - education, mental health - I could name you 100 things."
One is Terry's commitment to boost the funding of the financially strapped Department of Game and Inland Fisheries by funneling the existing 2 percent boat-titling tax into the state's boating program.
The tax now goes to the general fund, which means dollars from hunting and fishing licenses must be used to subsidize the boating program to the tune of more than $2 million annually. Putting the boat-titling tax money where it belongs would boost hunting and fishing dollars without a tax or fee increase, Thomas said.
While Allen's Alliance has offered a strong pro-gun message, it has been short on details about how a Republican administration would enhance programs of particular interest to people who hunt, fish and boat. There is plenty that needs to be said, considering Virginia ranks 15th - next to last - among Southeastern states in what its wildlife agency spends per capita for wildlife programs.
The most important question sportsmen can ask the candidates - especially those who will vote on programs as members of the House and Senate - is this: What will you do to help the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries face the challenge of managing and improving our natural resource legacy as we head into the 21st century?
Right now, the agency needs some true friends.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB