Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, November 5, 1995 TAG: 9511060061
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DWAYNE YANCEY, ROBERT LITTLE AND DAVID M. POOLE STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Virginia has more contested races for the General Assembly this fall than it's had since the early 1970s - and more are considered close than ever before.
An unusually large number of those competitive campaigns are in Western Virginia. Here are some of the races around Virginia that both parties will be keeping their eyes on when the returns start coming in Tuesday night:
|HOUSE OF DELEGATES| Del. Ward Armstrong (D) vs. Larry Roach (R)
The Franklin County precincts of Henry, Fork Mountain, Ferrum, plus Martinsville, part of Henry County and part of Pittsylvania County.
Armstrong took over the seat once held by Speaker of the House A.L. Philpott when Philpott died during the 1991 campaign. Since then, the boyish-looking Martinsville lawyer has been an outspoken defender of his region's interests - leading a petition drive against the Lake Gaston pipeline and vocally opposing efforts to move the Virginia Museum of Natural History out of Martinsville.
Republicans counter that he's all show and not much substance. Insurance man Roach, a Henry County School Board member, has pressed Armstrong hard, running the standard GOP campaign to depict the incumbent as a liberal who has opposed much of Gov. George Allen's agenda. If Roach wins, it's probably a sign there's a strong Republican tide running statewide.
Whatever the outcome, Armstrong wins the prize for the most inventive campaign advertising. To promote his annual picnic for supporters, Armstrong bought ads on Martinsville's raucous Cable 6 - then donned wigs to impersonate some of the station's on-air personalities in a spoof of celebrity endorsements.
Del. Roscoe Reynolds (D) vs. Phil Plaster (R)
Patrick County, part of Henry County, part of Carroll County, part of Pittsylvania County.
Reynolds hasn't faced a challenger since he was first elected in a landslide in 1985. He has carved a distinctly conservative record, especially on gun rights and social issues - a plus in a conservative district. Yet Reynolds is rated by both parties as one of the Democrats' most vulnerable incumbents.
What gives? Republicans say Reynolds hasn't devoted enough attention to constituent service over the years. Now he faces a challenge by a Patrick County supervisor who not only has a base in the western end of the district, but also one in far-away Pittsylvania, where the county's sheriff is one of Plaster's relatives. Interestingly, Plaster has avoided running a cookie-cutter GOP campaign, preferring instead to focus on local issues, contending Reynolds hasn't been attentive enough on fighting the Lake Gaston pipeline and funding improvements to U.S. 58.
Del. Creigh Deeds (D) vs. Ben Nicely (R) vs. Stephanie Porras (Green Party)
The Botetourt County precinct of Glen Wilton, Alleghany County, Covington, Clifton Forge, Lexington, part of Rockbridge County, Bath County, Highland County and part of Augusta County.
Deeds has been pegged as one of the Democrats' rising stars and a potential candidate for higher office - provided he wins re-election this year. The former Bath County prosecutor was first elected in 1991 and went unchallenged two years ago. He almost went unchallenged again this year; Republicans attempted to recruit NASCAR driver Rick Mast to run. When Mast declined, the GOP reluctantly nominated Nicely, a Rockbridge County supervisor and a former Democrat. Porras is one of three Green Party candidates from Rockbridge County running on a platform of environmental protection and economic self-sufficiency.
Del. Barnes Lee Kidd (R) vs. John Tate (D)
Smyth County, part of Tazewell County, part of Grayson County.
Kidd, a welder from Tazewell County, won this traditionally Democratic seat two years ago in what many have considered a fluke. Kidd's re-election campaign was so unorganized this summer that the Republican Party took control of his polling and direct mail. His challenger is Tate, a Marion lawyer. Turnout could be the key, and a local sheriff's race will get a bunch of people to the polls in Smyth County. Democrats say this is one of their best chances to take a House seat away from Republicans.
Del. Jackie Stump (D) vs. Tom Scott (R)
Buchanan County, part of Tazewell County and part of Russell County.
Stump is a living reminder of the United Mine Workers' strike against Pittston Coal in 1989. The union leader's last-minute write-in campaign against the father of the judge who levied multimillion-dollar fines against the union energized coal miners. Stump's victory astounded the political establishment. Six years later, Stump has become a Democrat, has undergone some intra-union fights, and now faces a spirited challenge from Scott, a lawyer from Grundy. Because of its union heritage, this coalfield district had been considered safely Democrat. But it's also a region that's been steadily going Republican in statewide races that have turned on cultural issues.
Harry Nash (D) vs. Steve Landes (R)
Waynesboro, part of Augusta County and part of Rockingham County
This is the seat that has been held for more than two decades by Republican Pete Giesen of Waynesboro. Now he is retiring and Democrats are mounting an unexpectedly strong challenge to win the seat. Nash, an insurance agent, is well-known from his years on the Augusta County Board of Supervisors. He has portrayed himself as an elder statesman, while depicting Landes - a former aide to Giesen and, later, Rep. Bob Goodlatte - as a young political hack with no real-world experience. At one point in the campaign, the graying Nash even referred to the thirty-something Landes as a "boy."
Preston Bryant (R) vs. Gil Cobbs (D)
Part of Lynchburg and part of Amherst County.
This is the seat that Republican Del. Steve Newman is giving up to run for the state Senate. Because Newman held it, Republicans had figured this was a safe seat for them. But the district's demographics are distinctly Democratic, and the white-collar Bryant, a consultant and Lynchburg city councilman, hasn't caught on in the blue-collar precincts the way Newman did. By contrast, Cobbs is a popular retired educator. Republicans now say this is a seat they worry about losing. If Cobbs wins, he would become the first black legislator from Western Virginia.
Del. Earl Dickinson (D) vs. Fletcher Harkrader (R)
Louisa County, Goochland County, Fluvanna County, and part of Spotsylvania County.
Dickinson, of Louisa County, is next in line to become chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, but the 70-year-old Democrat must survive the re-election fight of his life. Two years ago, he won by 520 votes against a woman with no real ties to the district, which stretches from the suburbs of Richmond to the outskirts of Charlottesville. This year, his opponent is Harkrader, a lawyer with deep roots in the community. This one could be up in the air until the last precinct is tallied. This is a must-win for Republicans if they expect to gain a House majority.
|SENATE| Sen. Frank Nolen (D) vs. Emmett Hanger (R) vs. Elise Sheffield (Green Party)
Rockbridge County, Lexington, Buena Vista, Augusta County, Staunton, Waynesboro and part of Rockingham County.
Nolen is one of the most conservative Democrats in the Senate. He also represents one of the most Republican constituencies in the state. This year, he faces a strong challenge from Hanger, a former delegate who in previous elections has proven to be exceptionally popular in Nolen's base in Augusta County. This race hasn't received much attention around the state, but in the Shenandoah Valley it's a classic matchup. Hanger is the more energetic campaigner, albeit a somewhat offbeat one - he brought an elephant to one rally. The laid-back Nolen is counting on his independent reputation to carry him through.
Sen. Jack Reasor (D) vs. Frank Nunez (R)
Wythe County, Bland County, Tazewell County, Russell County, Buchanan County and part of Washington County.
Bluefield banker and lawyer Reasor faced no opposition when he won his first term in the Senate four years ago. He has emerged as one of the Democrats' main spokesmen for Southwest Virginia issues and has even been mentioned as a potential candidate for lieutenant governor or attorney general. Now he faces Nunez, a retired library services coordinator at Southwest Virginia Community College. This is a race that has attracted little attention outside the district. If Reasor were to lose, it would be a major upset.
Sen. Robert Calhoun (R) vs. Patricia Ticer (D)
Alexandria
Calhoun may be the most independent-minded Republican in the state Senate. He's also the most endangered GOP incumbent. In the Washington suburbs, state legislators in Richmond get little attention. Meanwhile, Calhoun's Democratic opponent is in the news frequently as the mayor of Alexandria - a circumstance that turns the tables on the usual problem of the challenger having name-recognition problems. Ticer is running hard against Allen's agenda in this Democratic-leaning district; Calhoun is emphasizing his independence.
Sen. Edgar Robb (R) vs. Emily Couric (D) vs. Donal Day (I) vs. Eric Strzepek (I)
Charlottesville, Albemarle County, Greene County, Madison County, Nelson County, part of Orange County and part of Rappahannock County
Robb's conspicuous last name (no relation to the U.S. senator) might seem noteworthy in itself, but not compared with the nationwide recognition of his opponent's surname. His Democratic challenger, Charlottesville School Board member Couric, is sister of "Today" show co-host Katie Couric - a twist that has garnered more attention than even the race's scurrilous tone. Couric is counting on strong support from liberal-leaning Charlottesville. Two independent candidates, one a liberal, the other a libertarian who might draw some votes from both ends of the political spectrum, further complicate the race.
Sen. Elmo Cross (D) vs. Bill Bolling (R)
Hanover County, Caroline County, Essex County, King and Queen County, King William County, Mathews County, Middlesex County, New Kent County, Richmond County and part of Gloucester County
Republicans think this is one of their best chances to knock off an incumbent. Demographics play in the Republicans' favor: Hanover County, the heart of the district, is becoming increasingly suburban and staunchly Republican. In Bolling, they have a candidate who is both well-known (he's a Hanover County supervisor) and well-funded. But Democratic incumbent Cross is stressing a conservative-leaning record and an independent reputation. He's also banking that Bolling is a creature of Hanover County whose appeal won't translate into other parts of this far-flung district.
Sen. Joseph Gartlan Jr. (D) vs. Stan Parris (R)
Fairfax County
This has been called the "lions-in-winter" race; both men are in their 70s. Parris, a former congressman, lost two tries at the governorship and was defeated when he ran for re-election to Congress in 1990. Now he's back, taking on one of the most liberal voices in the General Assembly. After narrowly surviving a re-election scare four years ago, Gartlan is waging a vigorous campaign. Republicans gripe that Parris, by contrast, is slacking off, preferring to rely on advertising instead of making the rounds of candidate forums before neighborhood groups. Parris says he is simply being a more effective campaigner.
Sen. Clarence Holland (D) vs. Ed Schrock (R)
Virginia Beach
Holland is one of the few remaining Democrats in a city that has swung heavily Republican in recent elections. For demographic reasons alone, he is considered one of the most vulnerable Democratic incumbents in the state. Schrock has received support from practically every Republican source with money to spare.
Sen. Frederick Quayle (R) vs. Johnny Joannou (D)
Portsmouth, Chesapeake
Quayle, of Chesapeake, has had to answer questions about tax problems with a title insurance company he owns. The first-term Republican is running against Joannou, the Democrat he defeated to win the seat in 1991. The district likely favors a Republican, but Joannou's 15 years in district politics give him name recognition enjoyed by few challengers.
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by CNB