DATE: Tuesday, October 14, 1997             TAG: 9710140005

SECTION: FRONT                   PAGE: B10  EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Editorial 

                                            LENGTH:   29 lines

GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION COVERAGE LOBBING IDEAS, NOT MUD

If you saw or read about the recent gubernatorial candidates' debate in Richmond, you know Democrat Donald S. Beyer Jr. and Republican James S. Gilmore III can sling mud.

Now see if they can carry on a conversation with citizens.

From 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. tonight on Local News on Cable, each candidate will spend half an hour answering questions from a panel of citizens.

The candidates are supposed to discuss, rather than debate; answer, rather than accuse.

Their discussions will be rebroadcast at 11:30 p.m. tonight on WHRO public television, at 8 p.m. Friday on LNC, and on Sunday at 1 p.m. on LNC and at 2 p.m. on WVEC-TV 13.

The candidates were scheduled to debate for an hour next Tuesday evening at the WVEC studio, with live television coverage, but Gilmore backed out, saying that Beyer, during the first debate, had lied about Gilmore's record prosecuting child molesters. Beyer subsequently recanted part of his accusation.

As the election approaches, the charges and countercharges may intensify. Tonight's discussion may offer a rare opportunity to observe the candidates thinking.

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