THE LEDGER-STAR
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 4, 1994 TAG: 9408040793
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Short : 29 lines
A Virginia Democratic Party official is suggesting Gov. George Allen's nearly month-long absence from the state is part of an administration effort to distance him from the firings of state workers.
The Republican governor was out of the state on a trade mission from July 17 through the 27th, and he left Aug. 31 for a 2 1/2-week vacation in California with his family.
Gail Nardi, the state Democrats' spokeswoman, said Allen's absence could shield him from political fallout over his ordered layoffs of scores of state workers. The dismissals are part of an Allen effort to cut the cost and size of the bureaucracy.
Allen spokeswoman Melissa Herring called Ms. Nardi's criticism unfair and said the vacation is well-deserved.
``He has an extremely busy schedule, and this is the only opportunity, as a family, to go on vacation,'' she said. by CNB