THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 9, 1995 TAG: 9502090435
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MARGARET EDDS AND DAVID M. POOLE , STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium: 92 lines
Supporters of Norfolk State University are seeking to bolster the school's business administration program by moving the state Department of Minority Business Enterprise from Richmond to the NSU campus.
Budget amendments that would accomplish an NSU takeover of the $1.1 million annual minority business program are expected to be offered today during floor debates in the Senate and House of Delegates.
But the plan has become entangled in a partisan dispute over who gets credit for the financial well-being of the historically black school.
Some members of the all-Democrat Black Legislative Caucus are wary that a lobbyist with ties to the Republican Allen administration is leading the fight for the NSU plan.
William Kincaid - whose wife, Anne Kincaid, is a high-ranking aide to Gov. George F. Allen - recently registered as lobbyist to ``restore funds'' to Norfolk State University.
``I don't know what Mr. Kincaid could do for Norfolk State that already hasn't been done,'' Norfolk Del. William P. Robinson Jr. said, referring to recent action by Democrat-controlled budget committees in restoring the NSU funds cut by Allen.
Robinson said he considered it improper for Kincaid to lobby the administration on behalf of NSU or any organization, given his wife's position as director of constituent affairs. ``That's like selling influence,'' Robinson said.
Kincaid angrily denied any impropriety, adding that his wife did not give him special access to Allen because she has recused herself from any matter that might involve one of his clients.
``I don't know why Billy Robinson would be upset with me,'' Kincaid said. ``I would think he would want my influence directed toward helping Norfolk State.
``Not that I have that much influence,'' he added. ``There's a question if I have any influence with my wife; the influence runs the other way.''
Mark Christie, deputy counselor to Allen, said there was nothing improper with Kincaid lobbying on behalf of NSU because Ann Kincaid's duties do not involve budget matters.
``From an appearance standpoint, she has recused herself from the get-go,'' Christie said.
Bill Kincaid apparently has had little influence on Allen, who, according to a spokesman, opposes a merger of NSU and the Minority Business Enterprise Department.
It remained unclear Wednesday who hired Kincaid. Papers filed with the state list a group called Friends of Norfolk State University. One of Kincaid's partners, David L. Bailey Jr., described ``Friends'' as a newly formed group of alumni who want to promote their alma mater.
Attempts to reach members of the group were unsuccessful Wednesday night. NSU President Harrison B. Wilson could not be reached for comment.
Meanwhile, a bill that would ensure millions of dollars in state advertising revenues annually to The Richmond Times-Dispatch drew the ire on Thursday of the editor of the capital's black-run alternative newspaper.
The proposal ``blatantly violates every fundamental democratic principle,'' said Raymond H. Boone, editor of the Richmond Free Press. ``Evil is the dominant characteristic of this bill.''
W. Tayloe Murphy Jr., D-Warsaw, who represented the Virginia Code Commission in sponsoring the bill, acknowledged that it ``certainly favors one newspaper; we all recognize that.'' But the change is needed to bring continuity to the regulatory process, he said.
At issue is a requirement that proposed changes in state agency regulations be published in ``a general circulation'' newspaper in the state capital. Once the notices are published, citizens have 60 days to comment before the changes can be adopted.
Traditionally, those notices have been placed almost exclusively in The Times-Dispatch. But under the administration of former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder, some of the proposals began cropping up in the Free Press, a 3-year-old weekly publication.
Murphy's bill would require publication in the daily newspaper ``with the largest paid circulation'' in Richmond. Notices also can be published in other newspapers around the state if requested by an agency.
``This is clearly a discriminatory law,'' protested Sen. Yvonne B. Miller, D-Norfolk, who joined Boone in protesting that the editorial policies of the Richmond Times-Dispatch have long separated the newspaper from many black Richmonders.
Sen. H. Russell Potts, R-Winchester, complained that the reverse is true in his area. Most state notices affecting Northern Virginia are published in the Washington Post, ``otherwise known as the Washington Compost,'' he said.
The bill, which has passed the House, was sent to a subcommittee of the General Laws Committee.
KEYWORDS: GENERAL ASSEMBLY by CNB