DATE: Monday, August 25, 1997               TAG: 9708220022

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B8   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Letter 

                                            LENGTH:   98 lines

LETTERS TO EDITOR -- THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT

CAMPAIGN

Elect Gilmore, put

the GOP in control

James Gilmore's plan of personal property tax relief benefits those on Social Security and other low-income people who do not have enough income to pay state income tax.

Don Beyer's plan continues the personal property tax on them and only benefits the rich. When words come from a politician or car dealer, I look for the hidden meanings. Don Beyer is both. In this case, I don't believe he has the power, with the greedy Democrat-controlled General Assembly to bring about any tax relief.

It will be in the best interest of Virginians to elect Gilmore as governor and put the General Assembly in control of the Republicans. In the decades that Democrats have controlled Virginia, they have failed us miserably, especially in education. They have broken the state. Now let's fix it by throwing them out.

Al Horton

Chesapeake, Aug. 12, 1997

Omens of fiscal

doom are nonsense

Recent reaction to stories about gubernatorial candidate James Gilmore's proposal to eliminate or reduce the heinous personal property tax on automobiles forecasts fiscal disaster. The same thing was said when the Supreme Court ruled that Virginia had to repay a limited amount of money to military and federal retirees who were unconstitutionally taxed for over 40 years. This did not happen and Virginia still enjoys fiscal prosperity.

Communities have too long used the personal property tax as a budget filler and have given little or no thought as to how it impacts individuals. By all means let us get rid of it or at least cap it at 1 or 1.5 percent of value. And while they are at it, the Legislature should look at capping the real property tax as was done in Michigan. Pretending to have low tax rates while at the same time continually increasing property value is subterfuge at its meanest.

C. W. Carr

Virginia Beach, Aug. 12, 1997

``Nicotine Jim'' is

tobacco cartel's pal

Notwithstanding reports of his demise, Virginians should know that the Marlboro Man is alive and well. His name is James S. ``Nicotine Jim'' Gilmore.

If you remember only his plane ride to New York City on a Philip Morris corporate jet to pick up a $50,000 check, you didn't hear the half of it. According to latest campaign reports, Gilmore has received $126,336 from tobacco farmers and manufacturers which was specifically identified as tobacco money. Perhaps more important, he has received $404,589 from the National Republican Party, infamous for its ``soft money.'' Philip Morris is by far the largest soft-money contributor to the Republican Party.

Gilmore has already sent thanks by refusing to file suit for Medicaid reimbursement for Virginia taxpayers as 40 attorneys general have done, and by using your tax dollars and mine to file a ``friend of the court'' brief arguing against FDA jurisdiction over nicotine as a drug. As commonwealth's attorney of Henrico County, he vocally refused to enforce the Virginia Indoor Clean Air Act.

``Nicotine Jim'' Gilmore - the best and brightest hope of the tobacco cartel to keep Virginia in its stranglehold of addiction and death.

Hilton Oliver

Virginia Beach, Aug. 4, 1997

RACISM

Do unto others. . . .

I agree with Isabelle Clarke (letter, Aug. 13) that Bob Crumpler's use of the word ``nigger'' is offensive.

If it is acceptable for him to be kicked out of his Nissan dealership as a consequence of making racist remarks, then surely Louis Farrakhan should be run off the planet for his.

Nancy Fineman

Virginia Beach, Aug. 13, 1997

SPORTS

WNBA is full

of great names

I take exception to Bob Molinaro's recent article on women's basketball. Please be assured that there is name recognition in this league. Many of us have not forgotten the gold medals brought back by former Olympians Lobo, Leslie and Swoopes. We are also aware of such rising stars as Cooper, Perrot and Weatherspoon.

Old Dominion University standouts Nancy Leiberman-Kline, Inge Nissen and Anne Donovan helped usher in a new era in women's basketball. These bright, talented young women have gone on to play professionally or coach in a sport that was once male-dominated. Both Leiberman and Donovan have the added distinction of being elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Interestingly, the focus in the WNBA has not been on salary, drug problems, physical or sexual abuse, starting riots or illegal recruiting of gifts. Rather, these young women seem to have something their male counterparts lack - integrity, a true love of the sport and esprit de corps.

Here's hoping the WNBA enjoys a long and successful reign.

Ruth L. Bates

Virginia Beach, Aug. 14, 1997

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