THE LEDGER-STAR
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 20, 1995 TAG: 9501200679
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines
A bulletproof vest, a rifle and, not surprisingly, a pair of boots. These are some of the expensive gifts Gov. George Allen received during his first year in office.
Allen, who joined other state officials in filing annual financial disclosure forms this week, received his most expensive present from Mr. and Mrs. Walter B. Snellings of Fredericksburg - a ceremonial bill-signing table valued at $5,500.
The Fraternal Order of Police provided the bulletproof vest valued at $504. A black powder rifle worth $500 came from Gary White of Roosevelt, Utah.
The Republican governor, who wears cowboy boots as part of his standard attire, got another pair valued at $679 from contractor Jack Shoosmith of Chester.
Tennessee Gov. Ned Ray McWherter presented Allen with a hand-sewn quilt worth $285.
By contrast, Democratic Lt. Gov. Donald S. Beyer reported no gifts worth more than $200, the minimum value of gifts that must be disclosed. He also accepted no free trips worth more than $200.
Attorney General James S. Gilmore III went beyond the requirements of the law and reported the value of all his gifts but did not say what they were. They ranged from a $3 gift from Pierce's Pitt Bar-B-Que and a $10 gift from Lady Luck Casino Hotel in Las Vegas to a $844 present from the Sheraton Premiere in Fairfax.
Allen traveled frequently during his first year in office. Taxpayers paid for the most costly trip - $4,309 for using the state plane to take Allen and his wife, Susan, to former President Nixon's funeral in California.
The governor's taxpayer-financed travel also included his trade mission to Canada and Mexico, the National Governors Association meeting in Boston and gatherings of Southern governors in Nashville and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Other travels were for politicking on behalf of Republican candidates, with the campaigns picking up the tab.
Allen stumped for Tennessee's new Republican governor, Don Sundquist and Pennsylvania GOP Sen. Rick Santorum along with Republican candidates in Virginia.
He took trips financed by the National Rifle Association and GOPAC, House Speaker Newt Gingrich's political action committee.
The busiest traveler in Allen's cabinet, though, was Health and Human Resources Secretary Kay Coles James.
She took 16 out-of-state trips to make speeches not related to official business, many of them before Christian and anti-abortion groups. Her disclosure form noted that she accepted most of the invitations before Allen was elected.
The sponsoring groups paid for her travel expenses. by CNB