Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, November 20, 1993 TAG: 9311200184
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BY BONNIE V. WINSTON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The 73-year-old retired civil engineer has obtained summonses charging Gov.-elect George Allen, defeated Democrat Mary Sue Terry and two other former statewide candidates with illegally posting campaign signs in Loudoun County, 30 miles west of Washington, D.C.
Allen and Terry; Nancy Spannaus, an independent gubernatorial candidate; Mike Farris, the Republican candidate for lieutenant governor; and Timothy Southern, an independent candidate for the House of Delegates, have been ordered to Loudoun General District Court Jan. 13 to answer the charges.
Lyon said the candidates' campaign workers placed signs in the state's right-of-way along Virginia 7 and Virginia 28.
If convicted, the candidates face up to 12 months in jail and/or up to a $2,500 fine.
"He takes this very seriously," said Owen D. Basham, assistant commonwealth's attorney in Loudoun County. "He offers favors to no one."
Unspoiled, the view from Lyon's home, about five miles off the Appalachian Trail near Purcellville, stretches more than 50 miles down the Shenandoah Valley.
"I think it's a terrible commentary on our society that we sit back and let [candidates] petition for our vote in a manner that violates the laws of our state. That's a sick society," he said.
State law says when no one is spotted placing signs, "the person, firm or corporation being advertised shall be presumed to have placed the sign or advertisement and shall be punished accordingly."
Allen spokesman Ken Stroupe said lawyers for the governor-elect will make it clear that Allen did not post the signs. "It's inconsistent with what our policy was on the campaign," Stroupe added.
Whatever happens to the cases against the candidates, Lyon's campaign has had dramatic results, Basham said.
"If there's any question about it, just go into the adjoining county and compare the view," he said. "You'll see a bunch of bright, neon-color signs on stakes by the roadway. It uglies the view."
Keywords:
POLITCS
by CNB