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

DATE: MONDAY, January 3, 1994                   TAG: 9402250009
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium


4 YEARS LATER

LIKE THE Energizer Bunny, some ethical concerns just keep going, and going, and going ... . A mystery that hung over the beginning of Gov. Wilder's term in office is f+istillo hanging as he prepares to make his exit.

It's about the governor's inaugural slush fund - close to $1 million left over from contributions he collected to finance his flashy inaugural ball and other events surrounding his swearing-in four years ago.

Where, precisely, did the money come from, and where did it go?

None of your beeswax, Wilder has been saying since 1990.

At the time he decided to keep details of the inaugural fund a secret, it was perfectly legal. Though his predecessors, Govs. Baliles and Robb, had voluntarily made public such information, there was nothing in the law requiring Wilder to reveal all.

Under a new law, future governors - including George Allen - will be required to disclose the sources of their inaugural funds and how the money is spent, just as they are required to disclose details of campaign contributions and expenditures. This makes sense.

Consider that many big contributions to Wilder's inaugural fund came from high-roller special-interest groups that routinely do business with the state. Were they trying to buy more than tables close to the dance floor?

This old issue was revived last week by Daniel Alcorn of Vienna, who is considering seeking the Democrats' Senate nomination in the June 14 primary. Wilder also wants the nomination. Though the inaugural money apparently can't be used by Wilder to run for the Senate, a federal office, it's a fair issue for Alcorn to raise.

But never mind about Wilder the Senate candidate. Wilder the governor ought to settle the matter before he leaves office. What did he do with the cool million?



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