Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 3, 1993 TAG: 9311030424
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DWAYNE YANCEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
That wasn't enough for the Republicans to gain a majority, but it was enough to seriously erode the Democrats' century-long domination of the 100-member chamber.
The lineup in the next House of Delegates will represent a high-water mark for the Republicans: There will be 52 Democrats, 47 Republicans and one independent - Lacey Putney of Bedford, who usually votes with the GOP.
Three Democratic incumbents around the state were swept under in the Republican surge, and several others - including the chairman of the Appropriations Committee - had to struggle to beat back unexpectedly stiff challenges.
The most prominent Democrat who lost was Del. Lewis Parker of South Hill in Mecklenburg County, a 20-year-veteran who at one time had been a candidate for speaker of the house. Parker not only faced an aggressive Republican challenger who depicted him as out of touch with his Southside district, but also was hurt by a third candidate who siphoned off support from black voters.
In Southwest Virginia, Del. G.C. Jennings, a 12-year-veteran from Marion, was upset by Barnes Kidd, who owns a Tazewell County welding shop.
In Northern Virginia, freshman Del. Jerry Wood, D-Warrenton, also fell to a Republican challenger.
Republicans picked up three other seats where retirements by Democratic incumbents had left seats up for grabs:
In Franklin County, Rocky Mount banker Allen Dudley won the seat vacated by Del. Willard Finney. In far Southwest Virginia, Terry Kilgore gained the seat vacated by Del. Ford Quillen. And in Winchester, Beverly Sherwood coasted to an easy win for Del. Alson Smith's old seat.
Republicans nearly picked off several other seats. Among the Democrats who barely survived re-election challenges were House Appropriations Committee Chairman Robert Ball of Richmond, V. Earl Dickinson of Louisa County, George Grayson of Williamsburg, Howard Copeland of Norfolk and William Barlow of Smithfield.
Republicans exulted in their victories and predicted they would win a majority of seats in the House, come the next round of elections in 1995.
Scott Leake, director of the Republicans' legislative delegation, disputed suggestions that the GOP candidates won Tuesday solely on Allen's coattails.
Instead, he said, the key was that the winning Republicans talked about the same issues their standard-bearer did - crime and wasteful spending.
"The same thing that worked for George worked for other candidates," Leake said. "We took a poll in the summer that tested the Republican message against a generic Democratic message, and the Republican message won 3-to-1. We told our candidates to imagine it was 1980 and they were running for the House of Representatives and Ronald Reagan was at the top of the ticket."
Leake pointed out that not a single Republican incumbent lost. "Usually you have a plain accident. We didn't," he said.
Democrats consoled themselves that the Republican push to win a majority in the House fell short - this time.
"They should have done better," said Tom King, Mary Sue Terry's consultant. "The tide for change was out there, and they didn't capitalize on it. Allen said the word `change,' and he moved 20 percentage points.
"I think they missed a golden opportunity."
Keywords:
ELECTION
by CNB