ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, October 24, 1996 TAG: 9610240047
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: TODD JACKSON AND RICHARD FOSTER STAFF WRITERS
Republican congressional candidate George Landrith says he's against gambling.
So much so, in fact, that he says he's in favor of a federal commission that will study the political influence of the gambling industry.
But Landrith's opposition didn't stop him from taking a $2,500 contribution from Harrah's Entertainment - a huge gambling company lobbying against many issues the federal commission will discuss.
Harrah's political action committee, based in Memphis, Tenn., gave Landrith $2,500, the second largest contribution he received over the past three months, according to his latest finance disclosure report.
Landrith said he knew of Harrah's gambling interests, but that he wasn't aware that its PAC had anything to do with crap tables or roulette wheels.
"My understanding is they're in hotel management," the Albemarle County lawyer said. "When they approached me, I asked that very question. As you know, I'm not a fan of gambling. I made that clear, and I was told they were concerned about taxes and frivolous lawsuits like most business entities are."
Landrith said he's comfortable accepting the company's money.
"If they want to support me, it means they're subscribing to my agenda, not me to theirs, because I don't play games with them."
His Democratic opponent in the 5th District, state Sen. Virgil Goode of Rocky Mount, has never accepted PAC money from a gambling company and won't do so in the future, Goode campaign spokesman Jim Severt said.
But Goode has accepted his share of PAC money - about six times more than what Landrith has, according to the latest finance reports.
Goode's contributions include money from medical, cigarette and beer PACs, including the Coors PAC of Golden, Colo., and the National Beer Wholesalers Association PAC of Washington, D.C.
Tex Wood of Patrick County, the Virginia Independent Party candidate in the 5th, says he hasn't accepted or been offered any PAC money.
Gambling corporations have given more that $4 million to candidates and the Republican and Democratic parties since 1991, according to two studies by public interest research groups.
Gambling foes say the PAC contributions are aimed at either stopping or watering down the powers of the recently established federal commission.
"I think the [gambling companies] are trying to buy Congress,'' Bernie Horn, political director for the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling, said in a June article in a Memphis newspaper.
The man who oversees Harrah's PAC, Gary Burhop, has said the company is giving to politicians as a reaction to proposed gambling taxes and industry studies at the federal level. Burhop couldn't be reached for comment for this story.
Harrah's has given more money to politicians than any other gambling company this year. Its political action committee has given $133,483 to candidates around the country through July 15, according to federal disclosure reports.
Landrith is the only Virginia candidate who received a Harrah's contribution during the most recent reporting period. Two other candidates - Sen. John Warner and Rep. Thomas Bliley, R-Richmond - accepted Harrah's money earlier this year.
Landrith has blasted gambling many times in campaign speeches.
Landrith appeared at the event with Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Fairfax County, an outspoken opponent of legalized gambling who helped establish the federal commission that over the next two years will study the impact of gambling.
On Wednesday, Wolf said it's a candidate's personal decision to take PAC money from gambling interests.
"Because a company gives to a person, it doesn't mean that gambling's the issue they gave on. In that business, there's hotels and restaurants and other concerns."
Several voters in the 5th District said Landrith's decision to take the Harrah's money doesn't surprise them.
Pat Moriarty of Huddleston said he's not a Landrith supporter, but sees nothing wrong with the situation.
"I spend a lot of time out west, and I know Harrah's has a big hotel, too. There's one in Las Vegas. I think to some extent, all of this has been overanalyzed. I guess some contributions are out of line, but I don't think this one is that bad."
Joan Danzig of Huddleston had a different take.
"They all do it," she said. "I wouldn't think too much of it. Sure, it would bother me, but I've learned that all the people who are running are lying. There's not a one you can trust to tell the truth."
LENGTH: Medium: 87 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) Landrith. color. KEYWORDS: POLITICS CONGRESSby CNB