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

DATE: SATURDAY, July 2, 1994                   TAG: 9407040100
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV1   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: New River Valley bureau
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

WEST DOESN'T GET REAPPOINTMENT TO STATE BOAR

Republican Allen has conducted a thorough clean sweep of hold-over appointments to state boards and commissions. Many appointees obtained the positions during prior Democratic gubernatorial administrations.

Seven of the Board of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services' nine members were removed from the board by Allen. The terms of some members had not expired, but Allen removed them anyway - which is his right.

That was the case with West, Montgomery County Democratic chairwoman, who was appointed to the board in 1990 by then-Gov. Douglas Wilder.

West - who chaired the mental health board for the past three years - got the news in a telephone call from the governor's office Thursday.

Her four-year term ended July 1. West said she was thanked for her services but was told the governor would appoint a new board member in her place.

Issues related to Western and Southwest Virginia will now be handled by Barbara B. Smith of Washington County, one of two board members Allen retained, said Betsy Beamer, secretary of the commonwealth.

Last month Allen also appointed a new commissioner to the Board of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services.

The governor has been using the opportunity to replace appointees with those who share his conservative political philosophy, Beamer said.

"I really enjoyed working with Lindsay. But with every new administration comes change. It's something to be expected," said Jane V. Helfrich, administrator of the mental health board.