Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, July 7, 1994 TAG: 9407070111
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By DWAYNE YANCEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Some Explore supporters were miffed last week when Allen declined to reappoint six members of Explore's governing body whose terms were up and installed Republican Party activists and contributors in their place.
Among those ousted were the Explore board's chairman, vice chairman and former chairman - retired Virginia Beach banker Clifford Cutchins III, Vinton Mayor Charles Hill and Roanoke funeral home president Lawrence Hamlar.
But Secretary of the Commonwealth Betsy Beamer, whose office handles the governor's appointments to state boards, said none of the incumbent board members had applied for reappointment.
"What it takes is a letter to the governor or this office, so we know there's an interest," Beamer said.
Explore Park Director Rupert Cutler said the six board members who weren't reappointed didn't realize they needed to reapply; in the past, there has been a presumption that board members would be reappointed when their terms were up.
But with a change of party in the governor's office, that's no longer the case, Beamer said.
She said the six new members Allen appointed to the Explore board either sought the position or were recommended by others.
Did Allen intend to send a signal to Explore by replacing so many board members? "Not at all," Beamer said.
Beamer also pointed out that, in a few cases, Allen has reappointed people who were first named to boards by Democratic governors.
Cutler said he would advise board members whose terms are up next year that if they're still interested in serving, they should send a letter to the governor.
by CNB