Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, April 2, 1994 TAG: 9404020171
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Staff and wire reports
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
Metzger is finishing a temporary term as U.S. marshal for the Western District of Virginia. Metzger also has served as a special assistant to Rep. Thomas J. Bliley, R-Richmond, and is the former organization director of the Republican Party of Virginia.
Allen replaced the entire Virginia Parole Board. He also appointed new commissioners of transportation and agriculture.
Donald Gehr of Midlothian will take over the Department of Transportation, replacing Ray Pethtel, who served the last two Democratic governors. Gehr said he agrees with Allen that a fuel tax increase is unnecessary now.
"We have to take a look at the needs assessment, and make sure those are absolute needs," Gehr said.
Carlton Courter III of Richmond was appointed commissioner of the Department of Agriculture. Courter has been president of the Virginia Agribusiness Council since 1987.
The Virginia Farm Bureau had called for the reappointment of Clinton Turner, who was named to the post by former Gov. Douglas Wilder.
Allen also fulfilled a campaign pledge by appointing a crime victim - Linda Pitman of Chesapeake - to the parole board. Pitman, a kindergarten assistant at Glenwood Elementary School in Virginia Beach, has received national attention for her efforts to identify and convict a felon who raped her in April 1989.
Other appointees to the board include: Sandra Combs of Yorktown, a professional volunteer and member of the York County School Board; Joseph Lewis of Richmond, regional manager of the Department of Corrections; and Winnie Richardson-Dixon of Richmond, diversion investigator for the Drug Enforcement Administration.
by CNB