ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, January 20, 1997 TAG: 9701200066
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: RICHMOND
SOURCE: Associated Press
ATTORNEY GENERAL JIM GILMORE AND LT. GOV. DON BEYER hold the spotlight because of their positions but both so far are sticking with low-cost, low-risk initiatives.
Attorney General Jim Gilmore took a break from his legal duties one day last week to meet with a group of Jewish visitors and talk about his recent trip to Israel.
``I brought back 240 slides,'' Gilmore told the group. ``I know all of you will want to see each and every one of them.''
As if not to be outdone, Lt. Gov. Don Beyer dashed away from the state Senate long enough to court the same captive audience.
``I just came from the Capitol,'' Beyer said with a grin. ``Let us pray.''
As Gov. George Allen enters the final year of his four-year term, the race to succeed him already has begun.
Although neither man has bothered to make it official yet, Beyer, a Democrat, and Gilmore, a Republican, are laying the groundwork for the race this fall to the governor's mansion.
And without any apparent challengers for their parties' nominations, both men are free to use the General Assembly session to woo voters and craft a legislative agenda that could boost their political resumes.
Beyer, a 46-year-old Volvo dealer, and Gilmore, a 47-year-old lawyer and former prosecutor, are successful statewide candidates with solid credentials.
Although Beyer has a slight fund-raising edge, both men already have more than $1million in cash on hand, according to financial reports filed last week.
The contest is taking shape unusually early partly because both men already hold high public offices that command the media spotlight. Not since 1981 have the sitting lieutenant governor and attorney general squared off for the governorship.
Beyer and Gilmore have hit the Richmond lecture circuit, attending breakfast, lunch and dinner meetings with educators, business leaders and lobbyists.
The speeches appear to be crafted to avoid making big news. Both men are pushing legislative agendas that consist of low-cost, low-risk initiatives that steer clear of controversial issues.
``Everybody's in the play-it-safe mode right now,'' said Mark Rozell, a Virginia political analyst at American University. ``Looking busy and taking credit for things are what they need to do. Stirring up trouble is the last thing they need right now.''
Gilmore talks ceaselessly about his plan to offer college scholarships to high-achieving students. But he won't offer the legislation this year, saying the scholarships would be tied to new standardized tests that have yet to be developed.
Beyer last week appeared before a House of Delegates subcommittee to call for a more generous pay raise for Virginia's 100,000-plus state workers.
He made the public pitch even as legislative budget-writers were signaling their intention to boost employee pay.
Even so, Rozell said, winning approval of a few modest initiatives this winter can play a useful, if marginal, role during the upcoming campaign.
``It's resume-building,'' he said. ``It answers the question: `What have you done for me lately?'''
LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines KEYWORDS: POLITICS GOVERNORby CNB