THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, December 8, 1994 TAG: 9412080483
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B9 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium: 52 lines
Gov. George Allen formed a political action committee during the summer. The PAC has worked quietly since to promote Allen's political agenda, including paying for a national Republican governors meeting.
The Campaign for Honest Change, which Allen formed on June 27, had as its first broad mission to raise $330,000 to pay for last month's Republican Governors Association conference in Williamsburg.
Allen was host for the conference and helped lead an exploration of federalism there.
A financial report filed with the State Board of Elections shows only limited activity by the PAC.
Christopher R. Nolan, the PAC's lone full-time employee, said he has devoted most of his time to raising money for the governors' conference. The money, from many of the state's largest corporations, was forwarded to the Republican Governors Association.
Chris Henick, executive director of the association, said host governors have relied on private and corporate contributors to cover the costs of the conferences, so taxpayers wouldn't have to pay.
``The host committee did a terrific job; it was a huge success for Governor Allen as well as the people of Virginia,'' Henick said, pointing to the national publicity given the conference.
The conference attracted the new Republican leaders in Congress.
Because of the unexpected victories by Republican gubernatorial candidates in the Nov. 8 election, the budget swelled from $250,000 to $330,000, Henick said. Eleven new GOP governors were elected, to bring the total to 30.
The money went for meals, transportation, entertainment, conference hall rentals and other expenses. The governors paid for their own lodging.
The Campaign for Honest Change Committee operates in a small office in Richmond.
Allen's predecessors, L. Douglas Wilder, Gerald L. Baliles and Charles S. Robb, set up PACs to help pay for political activities.
``Our mission statement is to support the agenda of honest change that Virginia voters endorsed in the 1993 gubernatorial election,'' Nolan said.
Ken Stroupe, Allen's press secretary, said money left over from Allen's inaugural committee will be transferred to the new committee at the end of the year. A recent report showed the Commonwealth Inaugural Committee raised $1,378,000 and spent $1,315,518, leaving a balance of about $62,000.
KEYWORDS: POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE PAC by CNB