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

DATE: SATURDAY, September 9, 1995                   TAG: 9509110073
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Medium

PAC FORMED TO ASSIST CONSERVATIVE DEMOCRATS

A former lawmaker known for his fund-raising prowess said Friday that he has formed a political action committee to help fiscally responsible Democratic candidates in this fall's legislative campaigns.

Alson Smith Jr. of Winchester, who served in the House of Delegates for 20 years before retiring in 1994, said Virginians for Fiscal Responsibility Inc. ``will raise a few thousand dollars for Democrats who are conservative, business-oriented candidates."

``The people involved in this PAC just feel Virginia has been the best-managed state over the last several years, and we want to elect people we think will go to Richmond and continue that very conservative tradition.''

All 140 General Assembly seats are up for election Nov. 7. Democrats are clinging to a three-seat advantage in both the Senate and the House.

Smith said his organization will give money to Democratic candidates - incumbents and challengers alike - who support the pay-as-you-go approach, which has kept Virginia's debt to a minimum.

``If he's going to try to hang a fiscal irresponsibility label around Republicans' necks, it's not going to sell,'' said Scott Leake, chairman of the assembly's Joint Republican Caucus. ``Voters understand which party likes to spend money and which doesn't.''

Some Democratic lawmakers have criticized Republican Gov. George Allen's increased use of bonds to finance prison construction. The administration said the state can handle the additional debt without jeopardizing its AAA bond rating.

Smith said he and the two other members of the PAC's board of directors - business executives G.T. Halpin of Fairfax County and Elbert H. Waldron of Roanoke - ``will call or visit people we know around the state'' to solicit money. The group also might sponsor some type of fund-raising event.

Keywords:
POLITICS

by CNB