Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, December 16, 1993 TAG: 9312160214
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: GREG SCHNEIDER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
Allen dismissed Wilder with a smirk. "The executive of Virginia is not a monarch," Allen said, and he urged bureaucrats to ignore Wilder's order and submit both resignations and applications to be rehired.
"I would never tell anyone to violate the law," Allen said. "But if anyone sends it in, we will certainly understand and will not tell Gov. Wilder. As if he would do anything anyway."
Actually, even though violating an executive order is a fireable offense, Wilder said he would take no action against any state employee who went ahead and answered Allen's call.
"If they feel submitting their resignation is helpful to them, fine," Wilder said. "If they don't, they can say, `The governor said not to . . .' I don't mind being the bad guy. Again."
The daylong exchange between chief executives left state employees more confused than ever.
"They're in a quandary. They really don't know what to do," said Joan Dent, executive director of the Virginia Governmental Employees' Association. "The governor-elect is telling them he'd like to see them resign. The governor is telling them don't resign. We're talking about people whose big crime is they've made their choice of career state government."
The 450 are upper-level bureaucrats who either serve at the discretion of the governor or formulate policy. At least, they're supposed to be; Allen's staff is finding that resignation requests went to some of the wrong people. Ten have gotten reprieves so far - including the executive directors of all state museums - and more might be in line.
"It has dampened morale considerably. I don't know, but I hope that it hasn't affected productivity," said Lt. Col. James L. Lettner of the state police, where seven people - including the superintendent - have been asked to resign. Lettner said three of those should not have been included because Allen "had the wrong list."
Allen apologized Wednesday for the mistakes, but blamed Wilder for supplying bad information. He said the governor is trying to block "constructive, positive change for the state of Virginia."
Allen wants the resignations so he can make sure bureaucrats in policy-making positions agree with his ideology and are "competent and capable" of carrying it out, he said. If the employees look OK, they will be rehired.
Wilder said he was amazed that Allen would attempt this. "Can you imagine what state government would be like if everybody shared my ideolog y?" the governor asked. "It would be a rather tough place around here."
Even the staff at the Executive Mansion has been told to resign, Wilder said: "servers, housemen, people who perform the most menial tasks. Some have served for 18 years."
He questioned whether Allen's action was even legal. "You can't just fire people at will, and come in and say, `OK, you 450 are gone.' "
Wilder said he has discussed with state legislators the possibility of taking action to block Allen in the three days between the opening of the General Assembly on Jan. 12 and his inauguration Jan. 15.
by CNB