Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 11, 1995 TAG: 9505110070
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RICK LINDQUIST STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
"Anywhere we spend money on education, jobs come," said Beyer, who presented himself both as a man of ideas and as "the first fully certified auto mechanic ever to be lieutenant governor of Virginia" at the Radford University gathering.
Beyer, a Democrat, won a second term in 1993, becoming the odd man out in the Republican administration of Gov. George Allen. He has been mentioned as a possible gubernatorial candidate in 1996, and his remarks had political overtones.
"Ideas create jobs; education creates jobs," he told the crowd. Beyer's number one idea was to make Virginia's schools the nation's best.
"Our recent track record is dismaying," he said, pointing out that the state ranks near the bottom in spending for education as the Allen administration pushes to build more prisons.
Referring to rising college tuitions, Beyer said, "We're charging the most, but investing almost the least," adding that many good college faculty "bailed out" in the recent employee buyout because they did not feel valued.
He said it's no longer enough to say "We're no worse than anyone else" in terms of education.
On the positive side, Beyer credited the General Assembly with acting to earmark 100 percent of lottery profits to education.
Other ideas Beyer floated included making Virginia the best place in the nation to start a business and to "revive the notion of community."
"This is not the 'divided states of America,'" he told the nearly 200 business and community leaders.
At the annual gathering, the Chamber of Commerce also announced its annual community awards.
Retired educator William B. Hatcher received the chamber's education award. Hatcher, who still volunteers in the city's schools, served as a teacher and administrator from 1944 until 1980.
Radford Mayor Tom Starnes was named business person of the year. Starnes, a manager at the Radford Army Ammunition Plant for more than 30 years, has been the city's mayor for 15 years.
by CNB