THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 21, 1995 TAG: 9504210503
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANCIE LATOUR, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
Even as they called for unity and integrity, Chesapeake City Council members revealed deep distrust and a bitter partisan rift as they voted Robert T. Nance vice mayor.
Moments earlier they had welcomed Dalton S. Edge as their newest member.
Nance beat Councilman Peter P. Duda Jr. for the title left vacant by the resignation of Arthur L. Dwyer, by winning the support of five Republicans.
It was the third time that Duda had unsuccessfully sought the vice mayor position.
Duda, who had quietly accepted the earlier defeats, lashed out Thursday, painting a picture of betrayal by two fellow Republicans who had first promised to support him.
And his comments raised the specter of a majority party that punished those who might work with minority members of the council.
``Now,'' Duda told his colleagues, ``the one person who can bring unity to this council is being deserted, and for the very reason that he can bring unity to the council.''
Despite his seniority on the council, Duda said, those colleagues changed their vote because of party pressure, and because Duda had sought and received the support of the council's two Democrats and one Independent.
Nance received votes from himself, Edge, John E. Allen, John M. de Triquet and W. Joe Newman - all Republicans.
Duda voted for himself and received support from Mayor William E. Ward, a Democrat, and Councilman Alan P. Krasnoff, an Independent.
``We are at a pivotal point in the history of the city's council,'' Duda said in a statement before the vote that was part campaign speech and part concession. ``We've just been through a wicked ordeal, and now we have a chance to rally behind a man who is the senior member of the majority party. . weakness. That person is me.''
While council members have publicly played down the vice mayor title as a ceremonial role, Duda's remarks underscored the internal and external pressures he said swayed some members in their decision.
Though Duda did not name them on the floor, he said after the meeting that Allen and Edge ``turned'' on him within two days of giving their word and a handshake to support him.
Duda said both councilmen told him they would not vote for him because he had reached across party lines and sought the support of Krasnoff, Ward and Councilman John W. Butt.
Ward reinforced Duda's comments by noting that he kept his support private for fear that it would be the ``the kiss of death.''
Duda said one of his supporters abandoned him because he refused to be allied with Butt in the vote.
That led Butt, a Democrat, to nominate himself for the post so he could cast the lone vote for himself. Butt said he wanted to diffuse the notion that Duda was falling under the influence of another party and eliminate any stigma his vote might cast on Duda supporters.
After the meeting, Allen acknowledged that he had given his support to Duda, but could not keep his pledge after the bitter partisan exchanges that led to Edge's appointment to the council Tuesday.
``Duda is a good Christian man, and an honest man,'' Allen said. ``I though he was a loyal enough Republican. But he made a mistake by going over to the Democrats for support instead of getting it from his own party.''
Edge replaces Arthur L. Dwyer, who resigned Friday amid allegations that he abused his power in getting health benefits for a Chesapeake woman while pursuing a personal relationship with her.
Edge, 47, said before the meeting that he had hoped the council could now move past the bickering. He would not say whether he had given, then withdrawn, his support for Duda.
W. Joe Newman was unanimously named secretary of the council, a position that was held by Nance. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
L. TODD SPENCER
Mayor William E. Ward, left; new Vice Mayor Robert T. Nance; and
Councilman Peter P. Duda Jr. Duda again was defeated for the vice
mayor's job, left vacant when Arthur L. Dwyer resigned.
by CNB