Candidates in Chairman's Race Bring Up Abramoff's Legacy of Fraud

Democrat incumbent Gerald E. Connolly, left, and Republican challenger Gary H. Baise at an earlier debate in McLean. (By James M. Thresher -- The Washington Post)

Wheeler, a former California secretary of natural resources under Gov. Pete Wilson, verified Baise's contention that honorary board members had little or nothing to do with CREA's inner workings. Wheeler said he doesn't even recall being asked to serve as a board member before seeing his name on the Web site.

"We didn't have anything to do with the governance of the organization," said Wheeler, now a lawyer at Hogan and Hartson.

Baise, a trial lawyer who has represented numerous private- and public-sector clients who have had regulatory issues with the Environmental Protection Agency, also attempted to challenge Connolly's depiction of his legal career as one serving "dirty industry."

He pointed out that SAIC of San Diego, the government contractor for which Connolly works as vice president of community relations, has had its own environmental problems. In 1991, the firm, then known as Science Applications International Corp., pleaded guilty to falsifying test results of samples from Superfund toxic waste sites around the country. The company, which has offices in Tysons Corner, paid $1.3 million in restitution and penalties.

"If we want to talk about . . . dirty industry, I think you should check your own house," Baise said.

Connolly did not join SAIC until September 2002. He said that he has nothing to do with the firm's contracts and is solely involved with raising the company's profile in charitable and community activities.