THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, January 13, 1996 TAG: 9601130298
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: By MAC DANIEL, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines
Chesapeake Vice Mayor Robert T. Nance Jr. told a gathering of Republican leaders Thursday that he would not seek re-election, according to several people who attended the meeting.
Nance, however, refused Friday to confirm the reports, saying he probably would make an announcement next week.
Nance has yet to pick up his election package from the city, nor has he filed for re-election.
Nance had promised to serve only one term on the City Council, and that term ends in May.
``I was speaking to my friends last night,'' said Nance, referring to the meeting of the Republican City Committee at Greenbrier Country Club. ``These are friends of mine, very close friends. I have made no official announcement.''
Vista Cotten, a candidate for Chesapeake clerk of court last November, was one of several Republicans who related Nance's decision.
She said Nance made mention of his stance on term limits and his possible political future. ``I wasn't surprised. . . '' she said.
D.R. ``Dan'' Evans, the Republican candidate who ran unsuccessfully last November against Del. William S. ``Billy'' Moore Jr. in the 79th District, confirmed Nance's decision, as did Chesapeake City Councilman John M. de Triquet.
``I do know that the vice mayor has been wrestling with this decision for a period of time,'' said de Triquet. ``He obviously has been thinking about it.
``I think that we're always surprised when someone makes a decision to leave a line of work that they have labored so hard with and for so long,'' said de Triquet. ``Robert, as a vice mayor, has always been a fiercely committed public servant. I don't think anyone can doubt Robert Nance's commitment to the people of this city.''
Four of the council's nine seats are up for re-election in May. Those seats are held by Nance, Mayor William E. Ward and council members John E. Allen and Dwight M. Parker.
``There's a lot of possibilities for me politically in the future,'' Nance said. ``I make a commitment up front for anything that I run for so people don't think I'm going to end up a career politician.''
Nance said he could be interested in a seat in the General Assembly.
Should Del. J. Randy Forbes ever decide to give up his 78th District seat, Nance said he would seek it. Nance has long been a Forbes supporter.
``It's my home district,'' Nance said, ``but to sit here and tell you now that I plan to run for that position would be wrong. I absolutely have no idea what Randy's intentions are in the future. But I would be one of the contenders in the race if it ever came open.''
Forbes, who is currently unopposed in his bid to become state chairman of the Virginia Republican Party, said Friday that he would not surrender his legislative seat.
Nance, who has served in political positions in Chesapeake for the last 10 years, first came to the council in 1992.
He had previously been on the Planning Commission as well as the city's Drainage Commission.
He came to council as part of the Republican Party's ``Open Door'' ticket.
Nance has long attacked what he considers to be both city and council mismanagement.
He was a key figure behind the recent firing of City Manager James W. Rein and championed an ill-fated proposal to give rebates to Chesapeake residents who have suffered with salty tap water. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Robert T. Nance Jr.
by CNB