DATE: Friday, October 31, 1997              TAG: 9710300240

SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON   PAGE: 09   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Letters 

                                            LENGTH:  129 lines

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - VIRGINIA BEACH

Notwithstanding rumors 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 the latest campaign reports, Gilmore has received $126,336 from tobacco farmers and manufacturers, which was specifically identified as tobacco money.

Perhaps more importantly, 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 sue for Medicaid reimbursement for taxpayers as 40 attorneys general have done, and by using your tax dollars and mine to file a 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

Aug. 21 What about long lines in the past?

In his slick ads, Phil Kellam says he will get rid of the long lines at the commissioner of revenue's office. Then he states that he has been in the commissioner of the revenue's office for 14 years.

I just don't understand why Phil Kellam has neglected to do anything about these lines for the past 14 years. Is it that he just didn't care about the people who waited in these lines for the 14 years?

Salvatore R. Iaquinto

Oct. 27 Richard is good choice for the job

As a Virginia Beach resident, I have seen the benefit of new genes in the leadership pool for our city. People like Billy Harrison, Louisa Strayhorn and Linwood Branch.

I believe that if our city is to move forward, we must elect new people to positions of authority.

The Kellam name is associated with the old line leadership of big government and ``spend-a-nomics.'' It is time for new blood, ideas and goals for the future.

I encourage all citizens to vote for Rickie Richards for the commissioner of revenue.

Teresa I. Butler

Oct. 27 Kellam qualified for commissioner

In your endorsement of Rickie L. Richards for Virginia Beach commissioner of revenue, (editorial Oct. 23) you wrote that he had ``worked in city government for 22 years, 11 as deputy commissioner of the revenue.'' The 11 years shown as deputy commissioner of the revenue should be clarified.

Mr. Richards was never employed by the commissioner of the revenue during that period nor was he on the commissioner's payroll. Instead he was an auditor in the business license division of the Department of Finance. His responsibility as auditor was to conduct audits of commercial businesses in the city to determine that appropriate license fees had been paid. To accomplish these audits, it was necessary for the commissioner to ``deputize'' him.

This process, however, gave him no authority over the administration or operation of the commissioner's office or any of its functions. He was responsible to and paid by the business license division of the Department of Finance.

The purpose of this letter is to place in proper perspective and contrast Mr. Richards' commissioner experience with that of his opponent, Phil Kellam. Mr. Kellam worked in the office for 14 years. He had hands-on experience with the day-to-day operations of the office and is imminently qualified to serve as the next Virginia Beach commissioner of the revenue.

Giles G. Dodd

Former director of finance

City of Virginia Beach

Oct. 25 Which office has long lines?

Could someone wake up Phil Kellam and let him know that the long lines to which he refers in his campaign ads are not at the commissioner of the revenue office, but rather at the city treasurer's office.

I wonder if he knows for which office he is running?

Kay Morris

Oct. 27 Bigger is better is bill of goods

I am a Realtor in Virginia Beach and have been working for approximately six months with a family who thought they would retire here from New Hampshire.

Recently they flew down for the purpose of contracting for a new house they had seen on an earlier visit. Like most new construction in the southeastern part of the city, the area will be impacted by more jets.

After learning about the goings on at Oceana along with the fact that staff at our Community Services Board (mental retardation division) told them there is only a half-day program available for their disabled son and that there is a five-year waiting list for supportive living for said son, they threw in the towel and decided to look elsewhere - namely Williamsburg.

They have my full blessing in this decision. These fine people would have been an asset to our city, but to sell them on Virginia Beach at this time is next to impossible. In my opinion, the city is pursuing quantity at the expense of quality. Our government seems to be focusing strictly at raising revenues with little care and attention being given to meeting the basic needs of its residents. And while it will remain a revolving-door tourist attraction and military duty station generating the bucks, Virginia Beach is being violated and exploited in the process.

Speaking as a native, it is unfortunate that the desirability of this city as a place to call home is waning. It has and is continuing to lose respect and pride. Hopefully, it is not too late. It's certainly not too early for our elected officials and well-paid city staff to start asking what they can do for us and not vice versa. I believe the vast majority of the people who choose to live here have had enough of this bigger-is-better bill of goods. I know I have.

Martha J. Thereault

Sept. 13 Richard wasn't on commissioner's payroll

The people of Virginia Beach and Princess Anne County allowed me to serve them as their commissioner of revenue for over 34 years.

During my tenure, I worked with many dedicated hard working people. Now comes Mr. Rickie Richards, a full-time employee of the director of finance, now a candidate for election to the office of commissioner of revenue.

Mr. Richards has implied, during his campaign, that he has done work in the commissioner's officer over the years. I would like to state Mr. Richards was never a member of my staff and never was he on my payroll.

Ivan Mapp

Former commissioner of revenue

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu