OLIN GIVES CAMPAIGN FUNDS AWAY

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, February 16, 1992                   TAG: 9202160120
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: D-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LYNCHBURG                                LENGTH: Short
OLIN GIVES CAMPAIGN FUNDS AWAY
Rep. Jim Olin, who has announced plans to retire at the end of the term, has given away most of his surplus campaign funds to non-profit organizations in the 6th District.
The Roanoke Democrat announced Friday at a town meeting that he has donated $54,500 to 31 groups throughout his district.
The funds went to such groups as a local chapter of the United Negro College Fund, the Amherst County Historical Museum and the Mental Health Association of Lynchburg.
Olin solicited suggestions from his staff before deciding which organizations would get the donations.
Olin said he is holding about $5,000 in a reserve campaign fund in case unexpected expenses arise. If they don't, he will give away that money as well, he said.
In recent years, converting campaign funds to personal use has become relatively commonplace by retiring or defeated incumbents when the opinions of constituents are no longer of significant importance to their livelihood.
Particularly well known and popular incumbents often receive hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions even when they have no opposition.
Some, including Democratic Rep. Rick Boucher of Abingdon two years ago, spend the contributions on campaign advertising - roadside billboards in particular - to keep name identification high in anticipation of having opponents in the future.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB