Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, October 7, 1995 TAG: 9510070030
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DWAYNE YANCEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
To passers-by on Washington Avenue in Vinton, it may have looked like just another campaign rally - a noontime crowd of Republican activists who gathered in the front yard outside the headquarters of House of Delegates candidate Trixie Averill to wave signs and cheer on Gov. George Allen.
But to the Republican leaders who gathered on the porch to speak, the prospect that Virginians are within a handful of seats of electing the first GOP-led state legislature in the South makes this fall's campaigns anything but ordinary.
"This is the key election of this century," U.S. Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Roanoke, declared.
Allen chimed in his agreement: "When can you think of a more significant legislative election? I can't think of another legislative election where the people really could historically change the direction of their state government."
If the outcome of the General Assembly elections throughout the state are that important, the one taking place from western Bedford County to Craig County - where former Allen campaign worker Averill is challenging Allen's top legislative nemesis, House Majority Leader Richard Cranwell - assumes special significance.
At least the way Republicans see it.
"It's similar to a Foley-type thing," said Allen, referring to Tom Foley, the Democratic speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives who was toppled in last year's Republican sweep of the congressional elections. "You had someone in there for decades who has all this power and understands all the minutiae of state government and [Averill] is somebody who has common sense and wants to return power to the people."
So Allen's appearance on Averill's behalf Friday drew special attention - a troupe of Richmond-based journalists even flew along with the governor to hear what he had to say about Cranwell.
They heard plenty.
Little of it was new, but the Republican crowd of 50-plus was delighted nonetheless as Allen outlined the GOP platform of cutting the size and scope of state government - turning over the state's lottery proceeds to localities to use however they want; requiring that parents be notified before a daughter under age 18 seeks an abortion; cutting income taxes; and seeking "innovations" in public education, such as giving schools boards the power to contract with private groups to run publicly funded charter schools.
Allen singled out Cranwell as the "chief obstructionist" of the administration's programs.
The governor charged that too much state policy is being "dictated by oligarchs in Richmond" in the Democratic-led General Assembly.
And Allen suggested that Averill's challenge to Cranwell would be a test of his agenda.
"He's certainly the Democrats' leader," Allen said of Cranwell. "He was their chief obstructionist and they listened to him," ticking off several measures that passed the Senate but were "stonewalled" in the House on party-line votes. "It's such a stark contrast."
In an event designed to highlight Averill's close ties to the governor, Averill depicted the 24-year incumbent as out of touch with the people of his district.
"Dickie Cranwell has sold out the people for power," Averill said, restating her contention that because Virginians elected Allen overwhelmingly in 1993, they also want a legislature that will pass Allen's programs. "His agenda for change was exactly what he campaigned on in '93 and Dickie Cranwell blocked it every step of the way," she explained in a follow-up interview.
Averill also said that Cranwell has been too busy pursuing "a statewide agenda" to look out for his constituents. "He's constantly flying around, trashing the governor, making appearances all over the state for heaven-knows-who," she said. "I've heard it on authority he's out promoting himself for speaker of the House ... instead of coming back and becoming part of the community."
If Cranwell were listening, she said, he'd know that Virginians "want the governor's plan implemented." Instead, she said, Cranwell seems to relish his role as Allen's top opponent. "He doesn't believe in [Allen's program] because George Allen started it," she said. "He didn't like George Allen when George Allen was in the assembly. I've heard he calls the governor `a goober.'''
Cranwell's response - which came as he campaigned door to door in the North Burlington Heights subdivision in northern Roanoke County, with a Richmond television crew in tow - was much the same as it has been throughout the campaign.
He disputed Averill's contention that Virginians want Allen's plan implemented. "The people in Southwest Virginia are interested in increasing funding for education in this part of the state," he said. "If the governor could get out of the campaign mode, he could learn some things."
Cranwell also repeated that he's backed Allen when he thinks the governor is right, such as abolishing parole and settling the federal retirees' lawsuit over taxes. "But when he goes too far and adopts extremist views, he'll find opposition from the legislature, including members of his own party."
But Cranwell denied ever calling Allen a "goober."
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB