DATE: Monday, August 25, 1997               TAG: 9708250082

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY MATTHEW DOLAN, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE                        LENGTH:   67 lines

FAMILY NAME IS GOLD FOR CANDIDATE IN STATE RACE POLITICAL DOLAN STUMPS WITH SON, OLYMPIC DOLAN.

Let's say you want to run for attorney general. And, by the way, you lost last time. Then your son does something amazing, something even the most astute political advertisement could hardly hope to achieve.

Say hello to William D. Dolan III, better known to some as Tom's dad.

That's Tom Dolan, the lanky and lickety-split swimmer who captured gold at the 1996 Summer Olympics, months before Bill announced his bid for office.

Last weekend, candidate Bill and celebrity Tom, both Northern Virginia natives, teamed up to promote Bill's Democratic campaign in South Hampton Roads, where Tom was holding a swimming clinic.

``Bill who? Oh, that's his dad?'' Chesapeake parent Malcolm Roop asked while watching his daughters, Stephanie and Kristina, swim the butterfly under Tom's watchful eye. ``Well, I'm going to judge him on the issues.''

Needless to say, people tended to recognize the son first.

His mug was plastered on the Wheaties boxes clutched tightly by 12-year-old swimmer Meg Eason and her 9-year-old brother Tripp as they stood poolside Sunday afternoon at the Chesapeake Family YMCA on Greenbrier Parkway.

``I actually have known BillDolan for five or six years,'' said their father, Ward Eason of Suffolk. ``But Meg said, `Tell me when I can meet Tom.' ''

Souvenir bathing caps were handed out to kids at Tom's free, two-hour swimming clinic. One side said, ``Tom Dolan Swimming Clinic,'' the other, ``Bill Dolan for Attorney General.''

Guess which one kids and parents wanted autographed.

``We haven't done the polling yet,'' joked press secretary David Hallock of the Dolan campaign.

Clad in a white USA Swimming T-shirt, khaki shorts, a gold hoop earing and black-and-white high-tops big enough to be mistaken for hiking boots, Tom Dolan led about 35 junior swimmers at the Y through a series of lectures and drills.

Being a politician just doesn't cut it with the junior swim set.

And this in the hometown of Dolan's Republican opponent, state Sen. Mark L. Earley.

So the elder Dolan stopped in briefly Sunday, between appearances at Suffolk churches and a Chesapeake rally.

``I think sports like swimming help young people avoid some of the pitfalls that are out there,'' Bill Dolan said. ``My campaign is based on watching out for young people. If we can make sure that kids like these are into sports or some other activity, there's a good chance you won't see them in our prison system.''

Bill Dolan said he would use the attorney's general office as a bully pulpit for juvenile justice issues.

Father and son agreed that Tom gets a lot of his determination and dedication from his father.

Hobbled by asthma and its oxygen-robbing attacks, Tom's swimming career has defied the odds. He won America's first gold medal in Atlanta when he beat back his disease and all his other competitors in the 400-meter individual medley, which includes 100 meters each of butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle.

Tom dismissed any question about hogging his father's limelight.

``I got everything from my dad,'' he said. ``I'm just glad that I have the opportunity here with my family to help him out in any way I can.''

While Bill Dolan battles to become the state's top lawyer, Tom has a fight of his own approaching: the World Championships in January. MEMO: Staff writer Matthew Dolan is not related to Bill or Tom Dolan. ILLUSTRATION: William D. Dolan III

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