Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, July 20, 1995 TAG: 9507200043
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BRIAN KELLEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
In Blacksburg, it was pure, unadulterated, stump-speech politics as the Republican governor explained why he needs Larry Linkous in the House of Delegates and Pat Cupp in the state Senate. He even trotted out that whipping boy of the 1993 campaign: the formerly "liberal, lenient parole system."
Also in Blacksburg, Allen announced Virginia Tech had won a $50,000 research grant, to be matched with $26,000 from the university, to begin developing the high-tech brains of the "smart" road between Tech and Interstate 81.
In Elliston, he talked economic development and handed over a $50,000 check to the Montgomery County Industrial Development Authority. The Virginia Defense Conversion Fund money will help build a site in the county's Elliston-Lafayette Industrial Park for H.P. Hydraulics Inc., a 75-employee manufacturer that's expanding to Montgomery from Kentucky.
Allen also had a brief encounter with state Sen. Madison Marye, the Democrat from down the road in Shawsville who's running for a seventh time this fall, primarily to oppose the governor's policies. Marye sauntered up with a big, juicy chunk of watermelon in his hand. "It's pretty good watermelon," he told Allen. "I wish you'd come by more often."
"We could spit seeds at one another," Allen replied.
Marye said later the event seemed "purely political" rather than an effort to celebrate the industrial park's expansion in a nonpartisan manner.
In Roanoke, the first thing Allen did when he stepped out of his RV was present a vase of flowers - gladiolas, daisies and carnations - to House candidate Trixie Averill, who's trying to upset Allen's political nemesis, House Majority Leader Richard Cranwell of Roanoke County.
Allen also presented plaques for completing a state program on tourism to Roanoke Valley economic development officials. But he spent most of the morning on a hand-shaking tour, strolling up and down the City Market and the Market Building and checking in on art students at Center in the Square. He signed autographs and accepted at least two fruit baskets from farmers.
"It's really hard to answer questions when you're eating a nectarine," he noted at one point, as he bit into one of his freebies.
In Wytheville, Allen took time to meet privately with three opponents and one supporter of a planned private prison. In public, he presented a $65,000 check to help expand Longwood Elastomers Inc., which is nearly doubling its square footage and adding 125 new jobs in Wytheville Industrial Park.
On the political side, the Blacksburg appearance gave Linkous a chance to disagree with Allen on proposed cuts to Tech's Cooperative Extension Service - a topic that's sure to be an issue in the fall race against Del. Jim Shuler.
It also gave Cupp, who is challenging Marye, the chance to criticize Marye for not supporting the Allen parole bill and what Cupp called fair-weather support for Tech and higher education.
"We have all seen politicians like Madison who stand on the sidelines doing nothing for years, but at election time he suddenly becomes Mr. Education," Cupp said.
Marye said later he supported his own version of the parole bill rather than Allen's. On higher education, he said Cupp need only read old newspaper clippings, or listen to longtime Tech officials, to learn the role he has played. "The truth of the matter is [Cupp is] running for office and he's got to say something," Marye said. "I don't believe I've ever said anything unkind about Mr. Cupp. I'm surprised he'd tee off like that."
In front of more than 130 Republicans at a Blacksburg luncheon, Allen touted his administration's record on job creation (more than 87,000 new jobs and $1.9 billion in new private investment, he said), parole reform, prison building, and welfare and education reform
"We do need people like Larry Linkous and Pat Cupp in the General Assembly," Allen said. "We need to follow through on those efforts."
Linkous is challenging Shuler for a House seat that's been in Democratic hands for 12 years. Linkous generally saluted the Allen agenda, but took pains to disagree with the governor on last winter's proposed $12.2 million cut to Tech's Cooperative Extension Service, which eventually was overturned by the General Assembly.
"I think the governor will be the first one to admit that he doesn't simply want a `yes' man serving in the General Assembly," Linkous said, adding that the major difference between himself and Shuler is that he will be able to sit down with Allen and reach a solution to problems "beyond partisan politics."
Staff writers Paul Dellinger and Dwayne Yancey contributed information to this story.
by CNB