Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, October 18, 1993 TAG: 9310180083
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By DAVID M. POOLE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Wilkins, an Amherst Republican, came under fire in August for lobbying the Amherst Board of Supervisors to provide raises for library employees, one of whom is his wife.
A Democratic supervisor told Wilkins that his lobbying on behalf of his wife "does not speak well of your understanding of proper behavior by public officials."
The hometown newspaper found Wilkins guilty of poor judgment. "He should be well aware of the high ethical standard to which legislators are held," the Amherst New Era-Progress concluded in a Sept. 8 editorial.
Wilkins called the allegations a "cheap shot."
"The fact is that I didn't put a penny in my pocket," he said during an interview in Vinton.
Wilkins was in town Wednesday campaigning for Bud Brumitt, a retired engineer from Botetourt County who is challenging Cranwell.
At a news conference, Wilkins, state GOP Chairman Patrick McSweeny and former state GOP Chairman Don Huffman fanned allegations that Cranwell has used his political office to benefit his law practice and business ventures. Cranwell has denied the charges.
Later, Wilkins said there was no hypocrisy in his attacks on Cranwell.
"The difference between my philosophy and Cranwell's is that my wife didn't take the raise," Wilkins said.
Leona Wilkins, who is director of the Amherst County Library system, stood to receive a $942 raise if the Board of Supervisors approved 3 percent merit raises for library workers.
Del. Wilkins said he lobbied on behalf of library workers - contacting individual supervisors and speaking at two public hearings - because of his longstanding support for the county library.
"I had a dozen constituents who were being screwed," Wilkins, a former chairman of the library board, said.
Asked if he thought his opponents would make an issue of his actions, Wilkins said, "I figured they probably would, but they do things like that all the time. I'm used to it."
Wilkins said he had no conflict, because his wife did not accept the raise when the Board of Supervisors approved the appropriation.
At the news conference, Wilkins disputed the claim by Democrats that a defeat for Cranwell - one of the state's most powerful legislators - would be a defeat for all of Southwest Virginia.
Wilkins argued that he would have a good chance to become House speaker if Republicans gain a majority in the House of Delegates.
"I will be speaker," he said. "I'm a country boy. You are not going to lose anything if you lose Dick [Cranwell]."
by CNB