Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, November 27, 1995 TAG: 9511280029
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CATHRYN MCCUE
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Formed just two months before the election, the political action committee raised $34,000, and contributed almost all of it to General Assembly candidates - Democrat and Republican - whose records or public statements reflected a commitment to protect Virginia's air, water and landscape.
Of the 34 candidates, 83 percent were elected, Haskell said. One of them was Sen. Madison Marye, D-Shawsville, who received the most from the new PAC: $5,250.
Marye, a long-time senator, serves on several key committees, including the agriculture committee that considers many environmental bills, Haskell said. "We just felt he would vote right, and stand up for the environment," she said.
Other winners the group supported include:
John Edwards, a Democrat newcomer to the senate, $2,000
Sen. Joe Gartlan, D-Fairfax County, $3,500
Del. Andy Guest, R-Front Royal, $250
Del. Tayloe Murphy, D-Warsaw, $1,000
Del. Vic Thomas, D-Roanoke, $500
Haskell says Conserve Virginia will fill a void in Virginia, where most environmental groups are incorporated as nonprofits, and so forbidden to lobby, endorse political candidates or otherwise participate in politics. The PAC, registered with the state Board of Elections, will track legislation during the upcoming General Assembly, Haskell said, and help inform citizens of issues.
"Things happen so very fast ... quickly and quietly," that some bills have been passed without much public debate or knowledge, she said.
"Frankly, there's a great deal of concern about the direction of environmental policy in the last two years." The 14 members of the PAC's bi-partisan, volunteer steering committee are "very mainstream conservationists," who aren't normally politically active, Haskell said.
People like Barbara Lemon, of Roanoke, a civic activist, garden club member and board member of Poplar Forest, and Kent Peterson, a Charlottesville doctor, and Donald Perry, a Virginia Beach developer and Audubon Club member, and Lucille Miller, a Richmond artist.
Haskell, the PAC's unpaid chairwoman, served on the State Air Pollution Control Board for 17 years, under both Democratic and Republican administrations. In 1990, she was appointed Secretary of Natural Resources where she oversaw numerous environmental agencies for four years.
After two years of a quiet, private life, Haskell is ready to leap back in the political fray. "You can't screw up Virginia's environment without taking me on," she says.
One of the key issues Conserve Virginia will be tackling next year is the "standing" issue. Environmental groups have long criticized state laws which restrict citizens' ability to sue the state over water pollution and air pollution permits.
For more information, call Haskell at 632-3865.
The batman cometh
John Leffler spends a lot of time hanging out in caves, watching bats. The biology professor at Ferrum College has devoted his research talents to studying these denizens of darkness, which are fast disappearing worldwide. Many species in Virginia are endangered.
On Nov. 28, at 7 p.m., the Roanoke River Group of the Sierra Club will host a talk and slide presentation by Leffler about bats. The talk will be on the fifth floor of the Science Museum of Western Virginian in the Center in the Square, and is free to the public.
Environmental awards announced
This spring, 14 volunteers representing Evangel Foursquare Church hit the streets in their neighborhood and picked up 5.7 tons of litter and debris. This month, the church received the Clean Up Award, presented by the Clean Valley Council, for the stewardship efforts along Bullitt Avenue, between 4th and 8th streets.
The Education Award went to John Arbogast, Roanoke extension agent, who helped the council demonstrate backyard composting techniques.
The Government Award went to Lee Garman, zoning enforcement officer and associate planner in Roanoke County. Garman's efforts to eliminate illegal dumps go above and beyond his normal duties.
Lastly, the council gave two Awards of Excellence. Wayne Strickland, executive director of the 5th Planning District Commission, accepted the award for Greenways Project Steering Committee, which is overseeing the coordination, planning and promotion of the project.
The second recipient was Bill Modica, executive director for the Blue Ridge Environmental Network, who has kept alive the group's mission to unite various environmental groups in the region and promote environmental awareness.
There was another awards ceremony this month. The Garden Club of Virginia gave one of its "Dugdale Award for Conservation" to Lynn Davis, for her contributions to various efforts around the valley. Davis has worked diligently with government officials, planners, advocates and developers to preserve views along the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway.
DEQ changes numbers in Richmond
Starting Friday, all telephone numbers at the Department of Environmental Quality's headquarters in Richmond will have a prefix of 698. This replaces the 762 prefix. The last four digits of DEQ phone numbers will remain the same.
The DEQ's toll-free line will remain the same: 1-800-592-5482.
by CNB