ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, March 12, 1997 TAG: 9703120065
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: RICHMOND
The fund-raising leader is also the frontrunner in getting signatures on petitions in the battle for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor.
T. Coleman Andrews said Tuesday that he has collected 18,486 signatures, easily exceeding the 16,811 needed to get his name on the June 10 GOP primary ballot. He is the first candidate to meet his signature goal.
``The petitions speak for themselves,'' said Andrews, who claimed to have signatures from each of the state's 135 counties and cities.
To qualify for the ballot, a candidate must have at least 200 signatures from each congressional district.
``All of this was done by volunteers at a time when most campaigns are paying $1 or $2 per signature'' to signature-gatherers, Andrews said.
Del. Jay Katzen of Fauquier County, a rival for the nomination, also is using only volunteers, spokesman Scott Weinberg said. He would not say how signature-gathering is going except to say ``we will be on the ballot.''
A spokesman for GOP activist John Hager of Richmond, the third candidate for the nomination, did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.
The State Board of Elections will not accept petitions until March 25.
Andrews, a northern Virginia businessman, had raised more than $1 million in campaign funds as of January. Hager has raised $460,000 and Katzen $38,500.
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LENGTH: Short : 39 lines KEYWORDS: POLITICS LT. GOVERNORby CNB