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By MARY K. BLEWITT
Arundel Newspapers Richmond Bureau
RICHMOND — Lt. Gov. L. Douglas Wilder pledged long-term tax relief to all Virginians as he officially announced his candidacy for governor before a crowd of flag-waving suppgrters at the Richmond Centre for Conventions and Exhibitions last week.
If elected, Wilder would go down in the history books as the first black governor of Virginia. A Democrat, Wilder set forth his priorities for his administration in his “Three for Virginia” plan during his Jan. 26 announcement.
Pledging that he would “neither propose nor initiate any new state taxes,” the lieutenant governor said also that he would lead the fight against drugs and work to create new jobs and housing for rural Virginians.
“With Virginia’s economy being what it is ... it is not forseeable that new initiatives for taxes would be necessary on my part,” Wilder told reporters in a post-rally news conference.
As governor, Wilder said he would continue to push for the removal of the sales tax on food and non-prescription drugs, a concept that Gov. Gerald L. Baliles has yet to endorse. “We have non-tax revenue resources to look to,” said Wilder, making reference to the lottery and pari-mutuel betting.
But Mr. Wilder’s stance on sales taxes was characterized as somewhat liquid by GOP House Minority Leader Andy Guest. “Well, he’s flopping around again on the deck of Jerry’s ship of state,” said the Front Royal delegate.
“Two weeks ago he told reporters he would not push for the repeal of the sales tax on non-prescription medicines, a potential return of about $12 to every Virginian, which benefits especially the very poor and fixed income elderly,” he said.
“Instead, to secure Baliles’ support for his race for governor, Wilder walked away from his tax repeal stand. The Baliles’ tax credit plant would take care of this portion of the citiz^pery,' he said,” Mr. Guest charged, ins weekly “Legislative I Report” from his Richmond office.
“But this week he flip-flopped again. Now he says he’ll throw his support behind the Republicans’ tax repeal bills. Who are we to believe and when can we believe them?” asked Mr. Guest, one of four Republicans in the gubernatorial race.
Mr. Wilder’s only announced competitor for the Democratic nomination, State Sen. Daniel W. Bird Jr., D-38th District, bowed out of the race just two days earlier. Sen. Bird said that campaigning for governor would “take more dollars than
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