THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 21, 1995 TAG: 9510210272
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TONY WHARTON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
What does it take for a legislator to be seen as tough on crime?
In 1994, Del. Howard E. Copeland, D-87th District, co-sponsored and voted for a bill by a Republican legislator giving longer prison sentences to repeat violent offenders.
Now Thelma S. Drake, the Republican candidate for Copeland's seat, is citing that bill to support her claim that Copeland isn't committed to fighting violent crime.
Huh?
This battle for Copeland's House seat illustrates how difficult it can be for the average voter, with a limited amount of time, to make sense of the claims and counterclaims in a charged race with heavy negative advertising.
The legislation, House Bill 1318, has become a football between the two candidates on radio and television and in local political forums. Often it has overshadowed discussion of what they propose to do if elected.
``The person we have in the 87th District is willing to vote for something and look good when it does nothing,'' said Drake, an Ocean View real estate agent making her second run at the seat. ``I feel he's being dishonest with the voters.''
Copeland said: ``There are two issues here. One, the truth or falsity of the statements, and they are false. Two, is her competency to understand these issues and how the legislature works.''
The battle was touched off by a radio ad Drake aired heavily in ``drive time'' on several local stations. An unidentified woman, not Drake, says: ``Copeland said `no' to tough mandatory penalties for gun crimes. `No' to tougher sentences for repeat violent criminals. And `no' to the prison space we need to keep the thugs locked up.''
Copeland was furious and said every charge is untrue. When he challenged Drake to cite votes that back up the ads, she named two bills, House Bills 1317 and 1318 from 1994.
The Democrat leaped on that, showing evidence that he had co-sponsored the Republican-backed bills and voted for them.
Drake acknowledged that Copeland voted for the bills in question. But she argued that the bills, HB 1318 in particular, did not do anything because no money was provided in the budget.
The Democrats on the House Appropriations Committee, on which Copeland does not serve, added an amendment that said money to implement the law had to be budgeted in order for it to become effective.
HB 1317, which added carjacking with a firearm to the state's list of felonies receiving a certain mandatory penalty, received the same amendment.
Democrats say it was just being fiscally responsible. Copeland also said the entire bill was rendered moot by the special session on parole abolition in the fall of 1994.
The Republicans, who tried to remove the pay-or-else amendment, say Democrats are hiding behind a technicality. In fact, the GOP statewide is referring to exactly the same bills, urging Virginia voters to dump the Democrats.
Copeland said it shows that Drake doesn't know how to do her own research and doesn't understand the legislature.
Does any of this help the voter? Both candidates say yes, but for very different reasons.
``I believe the voters are perceptive,'' Copeland said. ``They don't like negative campaigns, particularly when they're false. I trust people to see through this.''
Drake said: ``I don't think it's negative campaigning. Facts are facts. As a voter, I would want to know this kind of information.''
As for the voters, it may still be too early. Several interviewed in the 87th District were not aware of the candidates' spat at all. They had not heard the ads for either side. ILLUSTRATION: Photos
House Bill 1318 has become a football for Democratic Del. Howard E.
Copeland, left, and Thelma S. Drake, his Republican challenger, on
radio and television and in political forums.
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