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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 29, 1995                   TAG: 9511290079
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Medium

LIKELY GOP CHAIRMAN WON'T QUIT CABINET JOB

Thomas, who hopes to succeed retiring GOP chairman Patrick McSweeney, said he would be able to separate his government responsibilities from his political activities.

Thomas, 35, would be the first Cabinet officer to serve in the role of state party chairman since the governor's Cabinet system was created in 1971. His candidacy is being endorsed by Gov. George Allen, according to spokesman Ken Stroupe.

His candidacy was criticized by Paul Goldman - who took heat several years ago for lobbying state government at the same time he served as state Democratic chairman under former Gov. Douglas Wilder.

The General Assembly, under heavy pressure from Republicans, passed the so-called "anti-Goldman rule" which barred state party chairmen from lobbying the legislature.

Goldman noted that Thomas controls a vast number of state contracts and jobs in his Cabinet post. In thedual role as Republican chairman, Goldman said Thomas "would violate all the principles the Republicans were for. How can you justify that?"

Stroupe said Allen sees no conflict with Thomas holdingdual roles.

"Mike has been very careful and very diligent about separating his public responsibilities from his private political activities," Stroupe said

The Secretary of Administration oversees many state functions, including personnel and training, the retirement system, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Information Technology. He's taken the leadership role in the Cabinet on exploring privatization of government services.

Thomas recently acknowledged that he helped distribute 324 surplus state computers to the school districts of seven Republican legislative incumbents facing tough re-elections. The distribution has been criticized by Democrats.

"That was cash in the form of computers," said Goldman.

McSweeney announced Monday that he would not seek a second term.

Thomas, as Allen's right-hand political man, tried and failed to oust McSweeney in late 1993.

McSweeney will not back Thomas. McSweeney said he ``has a problem'' with a member of the Cabinet also serving as a political leader. He did not elaborate.