ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, February 2, 1996 TAG: 9602020032
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: RICHMOND
SOURCE: The Washington Post
So who needs a helicopter, anyway? The General Assembly forced Gov. George Allen to put a for-sale sign on his executive chopper last year, but according to newly released documents, the action hardly clipped his wings.
Allen flew across the state and the nation 32 times in 1995, according to his annual disclosure form. Seven of the trips were aboard state-owned aircraft to official business functions, such as the National Governors Association meeting in Vermont. An additional 25 were to political events aboard private planes donated by supporters and corporations including MCI, Geico, Circuit City, Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Norfolk Southern and the National Rifle Association.
Roanoke lawyer John Rocovich ferried the governor in his personal plane four times last year. Rocovich came briefly to public attention when his most prominent clients, Roanoke millionaire heirs Edward and Peter Via, donated $100,000 through Rocovich to Allen's political action committee and asked the governor to steer it to two GOP House of Delegates candidates without the donors' identities being revealed. Allen returned the money.
The total value of the donated plane rides came to $28,154, while overall expenses for transportation and lodging, including those paid by the state, came to $43,845. The biggest share of that was the $7,662 taxpayers spent to send Allen to England, Sweden and Germany for a 12-day trade mission.
Allen's report shows that he received some pretty snazzy personal gifts during 1995, including two pairs of boots, an $800 camera from Canon Inc., two walnut rocking chairs worth a combined $450, and room accommodations in Williamsburg valued at $1,200. All told, he listed $6,412 in gifts.
As for Lt. Gov. Don Beyer, the Democrat who would like to be the state's next governor, he reported no donated travel expenses and just $1,767 in gifts, mainly a $1,000 present from members of the Senate for the birth of his daughter Grace.
Attorney General Jim Gilmore, the likely GOP nominee for governor in 1997, received $2,766 in travel and lodging, almost all reimbursed by the state, to attend meetings of such groups as the National Association of Attorneys General.
Although the law requires only that gifts of more than $200 be reported, Gilmore listed everything he received down to $5. Although he did not reveal what the gifts actually were, he noted that he accepted items from givers including the Austrian ambassador and Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Their total worth: $3,051.
LENGTH: Medium: 52 linesby CNB