Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, October 3, 1995 TAG: 9510030096
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MIKE HUDSON AND LESLIE TAYLOR STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
His first stop was a $250-a-couple buffet at the Jefferson Club for Newell Falkinburg, a Roanoke physician who is running for the House of Delegates against Del. Clifton "Chip" Woodrum, a lawyer.
"If you look at the General Assembly, there's a lot of lawyers," Allen said with an impish grin. "I'm a lawyer, so I can say this: I just think we ought to have a doctor in the House."
Without naming names, Allen charged that General Assembly Democrats "just want to obstruct. They want to pick. They want to cajole and carry on, but they don't want to do anything constructive."
On the other hand, he said, he's pushing for a "pro-business tax policy" and "common-sense, balanced regulation," which he said would boost the economy and create jobs.
Allen lauded Falkinburg's volunteer work at the Bradley Free Clinic, which helps working-poor patients. "That wasn't something he did because the government, or Bill Clinton, or Hillary, or anybody else told him to do it. He did it because it was the right thing to do."
For his part, Falkinburg played up his profession to a room that held a good number of doctors. "I am not a career politician," he said. "I'm a physician. I'm just a simple country nephrologist." A nephrologist treats disorders of the kidneys.
Falkinburg said Woodrum "wraps himself in the cloak of education," but he said Woodrum has opposed tough academic standards. "I think we may be dealing with the Dr. Jekyll of education," Falkinburg said.
The buffet was attended by about 35 people, including several local GOP officeholders. Falkinburg's campaign manager said it would bring in about $7,500.
Afterward, the governor headed up Mill Mountain for a fund-raiser for another House candidate, Trixie Averill, who's running against House Majority Leader Richard Cranwell of Roanoke County. That event was held at Rockledge mansion, the home of Ralph Smith, a businessman who has held fund-raisers in the past for Allen and Oliver North.
Candidates back health programs
A survey conducted by the Roanoke Regional Association for Human Services showed that state legislative candidates generally support health and human services programs.
Seven of eight Roanoke Valley incumbents and challengers - Democrat and Republican - responded similarly when asked about health care, welfare, family life, corrections and mental health programs. (Averill did not respond to the survey.)
On welfare, the seven candidates supported or strongly supported the availability of affordable child care, public transportation and job training programs for recipients moving off the welfare rolls. Cranwell and Jeff Artis, Republican challenger to Del. Vic Thomas, D-Roanoke, opposed subsidized jobs for recipients where private employment wasn't available. Woodrum had no response.
On corrections, candidates supported or strongly supported ex-offender programs, specifically Virginia CARES, and emphasis on treatment for mental health and substance abuse disorders in penal institutions. All of the candidates supported construction of new facilities. Woodrum said he would only "where needed." Cranwell noted that he would be reluctant to incur more debt for prisons until "current money is spent and we have a handle on how we are doing."
On health care, the candidates supported or strongly supported universal availability of affordable quality care, access to prescriptions and emphasis on prevention and wellness.
On family/quality of life, the candidates supported or strongly supported prevention programs for children and youth, funding for personal assistance services such as Meals on Wheels, affordable safe housing programs for the poor, availability of dependent care program options for children, senior citizens and the disabled, and the state's earned-income tax credit.
On mental health, the candidates supported or strongly supported access to substance abuse treatment services and reinvestment of savings from bed-reduction plans and program efficiencies at state mental health facilities.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB