DATE: Monday, August 25, 1997               TAG: 9708250048

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B2   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS 

DATELINE: RICHMOND                          LENGTH:   37 lines

CHESTERFIELD LEADERS' PLAN TO GO TO RUSSIA IS CRITICIZED BY CITIZENS

Chesterfield County officials are defending their plans to make a taxpayer-funded trip to Russia, saying the benefits could eventually outweigh the cost if Russia's free market system thrives.

``If it's a good idea, it's a good idea. We should press on,'' said Bermuda Supervisor Jack McHale, one of nine people leaving Thursday for Ekaterinburg. The group, including an interpreter, will return Sept. 9.

McHale said he's received mixed reactions about the trip from fewer than 10 callers, but the criticism hasn't made him reconsider his plans.

Seven county officials and two others are going to Russia, where they will help city leaders in Ekaterinburg learn how local government operates in a democracy. Eight of the travelers will cost taxpayers $32,000.

``It seems to me we have the opportunity to sell them something,'' McHale said of Russia. ``The community that reaches out to them to help them through this transition is going to be in a better position to take advantage of economic opportunities as their economy matures.''

Ekaterinburg is home to Urals State University, one of Russia's leading research institutes, and McHale said he's talked with officials from Chesterfield schools, Virginia State University and John Tyler Community College about possibly establishing an exchange program with the school.

``You don't know what benefits will be derived from this until you go through the process,'' said Don Kappel, a county spokesman.

Brandermill resident Jerry Elliott objects to the trip, saying it's not the county's role to use taxpayer dollars to teach Russians government.

``If the federal government wants to support that, that's fine,'' Elliott said. ``(The Russians) have been over here. That's enough.''

Kappel said too much emphasis has been placed on the cost of the trip, just a fraction of the county's $584.5 million budget this year.

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