ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, July 18, 1996 TAG: 9607180044
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-5 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: RICHMOND
TYPE: ELECTION '96
SOURCE: Associated Press
Virginia Republican Party leaders may decide as early as Saturday whether they will hold a nominating primary or a convention next year to choose candidates for statewide office.
Attorney General Jim Gilmore, the probable candidate for governor, has signaled that he prefers a primary, said Mark Miner, his press spokesman.
Politically, because Gilmore is expected to be unchallenged for the nomination, he may choose either process and most party leaders are deferring to him.
Miner said Gilmore believes the party will have fewer legal problems with a primary and it would get more people involved in the nominating contest.
The party's state central committee meets Saturday in Richmond and Chris LaCivita, the executive director of the party, said the subject of a primary vs. a convention could be on the agenda.
Party leaders generally have preferred a convention, although U.S. Sen. John Warner, exercising his prerogative as an incumbent, chose a primary this year and easily defeated challenger Jim Miller.
But a U.S. Supreme Court decision this year, involving the 1994 nominating convention, cast the convention process into doubt. The high court said any change in nominating rules must be cleared through the U.S. Justice Department under the federal Voting Rights Act.
``Every mass meeting and convention would have to be cleared with the Clinton Justice Department,'' Miner said. ``The process would be much easier through a primary.''
While a primary theoretically could reduce the influence of the Christian right on the state party, Miner said leaders of that group have not raised objections. In recent years, the Christian right mobilized its members to attend local mass meetings and elect delegates who dominated the convention process.
Meanwhile, two new potential GOP candidates for attorney general surfaced after the withdrawal of Richmond lawyer Richard Cullen, who had been considered the front-runner for the nomination.
Henry Hudson of Arlington, a former commonwealth's attorney and U.S. prosecuting attorney, said he has been approached by a number of Republicans. He said he would make up his mind in two weeks.
Secretary of Public Safety Jerry Kilgore also is being mentioned and has signaled potential interest.
``I truly enjoy working for Gov. [George] Allen and his administration and I'm flattered people believe I can do more for the commonwealth,'' Kilgore said.
State Sen. Kenneth Stolle, R-Virginia Beach, has emerged as the front-runner for the nomination. Also running is Gil Davis, a Fairfax lawyer who is representing Paula Jones in a sexual harassment case against President Clinton.
LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines KEYWORDS: POLITICSby CNB