Virginia Board To Distribute Tobacco Funds To Farmers
The Virginia Tobacco Trust Certification Board, a private board
responsible for distributing nearly $340 million to Virginia
tobacco farmers over the next 12 years, met for the first time
yesterday.
The board consists of Virginia Governor James
Gilmore III (R) and 13 public officials. The tobacco companies
will pay a total of $5.15 billion to 14 tobacco-growing states.
John Boyd, president of the National Black Farmers Association
criticized Gov. Gilmore, who heads the board, for not appointing
any Black members to the board. "That's the history here:
When the money's on the table, there's no Black
representation," said Boyd.
But Mark Miner, the governor's
spokesperson, disagreed, and said, "They will be represented by
the governor. No one will be left behind."
Source(s):
USA TODAY, (8/18/99) "Virginia", p. A8
[Full Text: http://www.usatoday.com/news/states/vamain.htm]
The Washington Post, (8/18/99) "Black Farmers' Group Faults Gilmore on Appointments", Craig Timberg
Washington Post Staff Writer
[Full Text:
http://search.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1999-08/18/134l-081899-idx.html]