DATE: Saturday, June 7, 1997                TAG: 9706070338

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B3   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY WARREN FISKE, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   62 lines

STOLLE BACKERS SAY COALITION'S VOTER'S GUIDE IS MISLEADING

Key backers of attorney general hopeful Kenneth W. Stolle have branded a Christian Coalition guide ballot as unfair and are trying to discourage its distribution in Hampton Roads churches Sunday.

``We believe this voter's guide falls short of. . . an accurate presentation of where Ken Stolle stands on these important issues,'' Del. Robert F. McDonnell, R-Virginia Beach, and David M. Hummel, chairman of the 2nd District Republican Party, said in a joint letter sent Thursday to about 600 evangelical activists.

``We would appreciate it if you would not assist with the distribution or release of this inaccurate voter's guide,'' they said.

The complaints come when the tax-exempt coalition is being sued by the federal government, which contends that the group manipulates its voter guides and other activities to help or hurt candidates.

The coalition, founded by religious broadcaster M.G. ``Pat'' Robertson, has denied the charges, saying it is a nonpartisan public policy group.

Hummel and McDonnell have close ties to the group. Hummel is a director of the Virginia chapter of the coalition. McDonnell received a law degree from Regent University - founded by Robertson - and has been a supporter of the organization's socially conservative agenda in the General Assembly.

They also have close ties to Stolle, one of four candidates for attorney general in Tuesday's Republican primary. Hummel and McDonnell are members of the Stolle campaign's steering committee.

Stolle was reluctant to comment on the matter. ``There have been areas where the coalition's leadership and I have disagreed, but on the issues that affect families or Virginia's safety there are no disagreements,'' he said. ``With this particular voter guide, I'm kind of confused about the way I'm represented.''

Hummel and McDonnell complained that the guide unfairly:

Listed as ``unclear'' Stolle's position on taxing authority for local schools boards. They said Stolle answered the questionnaire that he was opposed to granting such power. The coalition, however, cited a 1993 vote by Stolle that favored allowing school boards to set taxes.

Listed as ``unclear'' Stolle's position on riverboat casino gambling. Stolle co-sponsored legislation for floating casinos in 1993, but has since opposed them.

Said Stolle supports off-track pari-mutuel betting. ``The truth is Ken Stolle was the only senator to introduce legislation to ban off-track betting - three times,'' they wrote.

A 1992 bill cited by the coalition to back its pari-mutuel claim had nothing to do with gaming. Instead, it was a routine charter amendment concerning a bond sale in Buena Vista that was unanimously approved by the Senate.

Despite the discrepancy, Coalition spokesman Arne Owens said his organization stands behind the accuracy of its voter guide.

He said 500,000 copies of the guide will be distributed Sunday.

Two other candidates listed on the guide - Sen. Mark L. Earley of Chesapeake and Jerry G. Kilgore, a former state secretary of public safety from Gate City - said they had no problems with the guide's accuracy.

A fourth candidate - Northern Virginia lawyer Gilbert K. Davis - returned a questionnaire to the Coalition too late to be included on the guide. MEMO: Staff writer Robert Little contributed to this story. KEYWORDS: CHRISTIAN COALITION BALLOTT VOTER'S GUIDE

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu