THE LEDGER-STAR
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, December 20, 1994 TAG: 9412200399
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Short : 31 lines
Gov. Allen's Christmas cards may leave some recipients feeling a bit empty inside this year.
At least 250 of the cards, including those sent to Democratic and Republican legislators, contain no greeting.
Jay Timmons, the governor's chief of staff, said cards were intended to contain notes from Allen, his wife Susan, and their children, Forrest and Tyler. The blank cards were mistakenly mixed up with cards containing a printed message, Timmons said.
``It was human error,'' he said.
But to members of the General Assembly, particularly Democrats, the cards were symbolic of an administration that some feel has reserved its worst news for Christmas.
``I thought it was his Christmas message in full,'' said Sen. Clarence A. Holland, D-Virginia Beach.
Many recipients said they were surprised even to receive Christmas cards from the first family. Last week, Allen banned state agencies from using public funds to print and send out Christmas cards. by CNB