THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, April 12, 1996                 TAG: 9604120615
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY ROBERT LITTLE, STAFF WRITER 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   49 lines

SEN. KENNETH STOLLE'S BROTHER IS APPOINTED TO A COVETED POSITION

The brother of state Sen. Kenneth W. Stolle has been named a Virginia Beach commissioner of accounts, one of Virginia government's more coveted - and potentially lucrative - appointed positions.

Edward R. Stolle will begin a four-year term as one of four Virginia Beach commissioners May 1. He was appointed April 1 by all nine of the city's Circuit Court judges.

The commissioners of accounts oversee settlement of wills and estates, and collect fees from those accounts. Some commissioners reportedly make $100,000 or more a year, though attempts to pass laws requiring precise reporting of their earnings have repeatedly failed in the General Assembly.

Both Stolles are partners in the Virginia Beach law firm Bennett & Stolle, and money from Edward Stolle's commissioner of accounts position will be divided like any other revenue the firm generates, he said.

``Frankly, I don't have the slightest clue how much money I might make. I really don't,'' said Stolle, 43. ``I'm not a politician, my life is this law partnership. I'm worrying more now how to do the best job as a commissioner.''

All three other Virginia Beach commissioners have clear connections to the General Assembly. They are Glenn Croshaw, Democratic state delegate, Kenneth V. Geroe, former Democratic city chairman and John Richardson, law partner of former Democratic state Sen. Moody E. ``Sonny'' Stallings Jr.

Appointments to commissioner of accounts positions are routinely controversial, mostly because of the political relationships among commissioners, the judges who appoint them and the legislators who appoint the judges.

As the senior senator in Virginia Beach, Kenneth Stolle can influence judicial appointments and reappointments in Virginia Beach. Kenneth Stolle recommended his brother for the post, but he and the judges deny that influenced his appointment.

``We do not make political appointments,'' said Judge Jerome B. Friedman, chief of the Virginia Beach Circuit Court. ``Frankly, we are very pleased to appoint a lawyer of Ed's integrity. He is someone very meticulous and concerned with details, which is just what the job needs.''

Stolle will replace commissioner Stanley Phillips, who must retire. The Circuit Court judges recently decided not to reappoint any commissioners older than 70 - the same retirement system imposed on judges. by CNB