THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, April 26, 1995 TAG: 9504260009
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Opinion
SOURCE: By JOHN GOOLRICK
LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines
The administration of Gov. George Allen may have gotten a catchy new slogan recently as it heads into the fall elections.
``Motor Voter, No - Motorola, Yes.''
Coming in the wake of the Disney fiasco and bruising sessions with the Democrat-controlled General Assembly, the announcement that Motorola Inc. wants to put a $3 billion semiconductor plant in Virginia gave the administration a huge shot in the arm.
It was a tremendous reinforcement for Allen's selections of Robert Skunda and Wayne Stirling to head his economic-development efforts, particularly since a key part of the governor's campaign for election was a pledge to create thousands of new jobs in the state.
Motorola over a period of years would create directly about 5,000 jobs with an average yearly salary of $35,000 - far above the peanuts salaries Disney would have offered its employees - and could spin off indirectly 10,000 or more jobs related to its work.
Not only that, but the presence of Motorola may well provide the impetus for development of the kind of high industries in the Richmond area that are coveted by economic-development experts in every state.
So far everything about the Motorola development seems to be a plus-plus for Allen and company. While many legislators reluctantly went along with proposed incentives to bring in Disney, the Motorola deal got nearly universal approval from not only legislators but also the public.
Since Allen and his team were largely responsible for attracting Motorola to the state, the deal can certainly be used to the political advantage of Republicans in elections this year. Stick with us, Republicans can argue, and there will be more 21st-century high tech coming along to replace the declining 19th and 20th century industries centered around tobacco, coal and agriculture and, to an extent, seafood.
The question is whether Allen strategists will now attempt to build on the positive development or will rely mainly on the ``Motor Voter, No'' course - one that involves fighting tooth and nail to take power away from the federal government and return it to states and, at the same time, to dismantle a part of the state government, cut taxes, and give more power to local governments.
While that might be sound thinking following the frugal philosophy of such Allen heroes as Jefferson, Madison, Mason and Monroe, the Democratic majority demonstrated during the 1995 legislative session that at the very least a large and vocal slice of the electorate isn't convinced that that government governs best which governs least.
Or at least not when it comes to cutting down on funding for certain programs related to agriculture, education, transportation, health care and so on.
Part of the problem was, as Allen now admits, that the administration's reach was considerably larger than its grasp as it tried simultaneously to cut taxes, cut spending and jack up law enforcement. It did a poor job of selling its programs to the public and suffered political damage in the process.
But a few skirmishes don't conclude the battle, and the entrance of Motorola gives the Allen team a chance to begin putting a new spin on things. Whether they can develop the appropriate theme based on positive change for the next century while holding on to Virginia's best traditions and values will determine which party will dominate the next two sessions of the General Assembly. MEMO: Mr. Goolrick, a former political reporter, is now an aide to 1st
District Rep. Herbert Bateman. Opinions expressed are his own.
by CNB