DATE: Tuesday, November 4, 1997             TAG: 9711040301

SECTION: FRONT                   PAGE: A1   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Decision '97 

SOURCE: BY WARREN FISKE, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: ALEXANDRIA                        LENGTH:   70 lines

BEYER RECEIVES CLINTON BOOST

President Clinton tried to rekindle Democrat Donald S. Beyer Jr.'s fading gubernatorial campaign on Monday, denouncing Republican James S. Gilmore III's pledge to abolish the personal property tax on most privately owned vehicles as shortsighted and irresponsible.

On the eve of the election, Clinton repeatedly characterized the contest as a choice between a quick-fix tax cut and wise future investment in education and roads.

``This is a vote for an easy hit today or doing the right thing tomorrow,'' Clinton told about 500 Democrats during a 12-minute early-afternoon speech outside Alexandria City Hall.

``This is an election about whether parents will be selfish for a moment or selfless about their children and their future,'' said Clinton, fresh from campaigning Sunday for Democrats in New Jersey and New York.

Monday marked the second time Clinton has sought to help Beyer this fall. In early October, the president spoke at a dinner that raised $600,000 for the Democrats' campaigns. But with public opinion polls during the last week showing Beyer trailing by as much as 12 percentage points, even Clinton acknowledged that victory may be difficult.

Noting that polls showed more than 15 percent of Virginia voters still undecided, he urged Democrats to keep faith and urge their neighbors to vote for Beyer.

The Republican candidate, Gilmore, making his last dash Monday, said Clinton, Beyer and other Democrats ``just don't get it.''

``Tomorrow, send them a message that it is not selfish for Virginians to have their own money to improve the lives of their own children,'' he said.

Gilmore has pledged a five-year program to phase out the personal property tax on the first $20,000 of assessed value on all privately owned cars, trucks and motorcycles. He says it would eliminate the hated levy on 90 percent of vehicles. Gilmore has estimated the cost of his program, when fully phased in, at $620 million. The Virginia Municipal League says it would cost closer to $1.4 billion annually.

Clinton grudgingly credited the political strategy behind the plan.

``This is a brilliant ploy because there is hardly anything more irritating'' than the car tax, Clinton said.

But borrowing a line from Beyer, Clinton predicted the tax cut would drain money from public schools. ``How could you knowingly damage the education of your child and the future of your state for something that will be satisfying for, oh, say 30 minutes?'' he asked.

``This is an election about how the state is going to feel the next day, where the state is going to be years from now, about the future of your children,'' Clinton said.

Gilmore has said continued economic growth will provide ample new revenues to pay for the tax cut without reducing money for education or any other state program.

Beyer has pledged a more modest tax-relief plan. He would give state income tax credits to many people who pay the car levy. Individuals earning up to $40,000 would be eligible for credits of up to $150; families earning up to $75,000 could receive credit of up to $250.

An upbeat Beyer said little about his $202-million-a-year tax cut, however. Instead, he reiterated his commitment to public education during speeches in Alexandria, Richmond and Norfolk.

``He runs on a no-car-tax slogan,'' Beyer said. ``I run to save our schools.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo

ASSOCIATED PRESS

President Clinton, right, spoke in behalf of the gubernatorial

candidacy of Donald S. Beyer Jr., left, on Monday outside the

Alexandria City Hall. KEYWORDS: ELECTION CANDIDATE GUBERNATORIAL RACE VIRGINIA

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