DATE: Wednesday, September 17, 1997         TAG: 9709170725

SECTION: FRONT                   PAGE: A4   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: FOCUS: ELECTION '97

DECISION '97

                                            LENGTH:  155 lines

88TH DISTRICT WHY ARE YOU RIGHT FOR THE JOB? THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY CANDIDATES IN SOUTH HAMPTON ROADS' CONTESTED RACES TALK TO CITIZENS.

THOMAS WARREN MOSS JR.

Born: 10/3/28, Norfolk.

Years living in city/district: Lifetime

Education: Law degree from the University of Richmond; Bachelor of Science from Virginia Polytechnic Institute

Occupation: Lawyer

Party affiliation and official endorsements: Democratic.

Political experience/community service: Member of the House of Delegates since 1966, serving as speaker since 1991. Served as a first lieutenant in the Army during the Korean War. Member of the Scottish Rite-Shrine. Trustee, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Board member, Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation. Serve on Executive Committee of the Southern Legislative Conference. Active participant in Virginia Tech alumni activities.

How citizens can reach you: 622-1188

My main thrust ever since I have been in the General Assembly has been education. I can remember years ago when I first got elected there was a view that teachers' salaries had nothing to do with the quality of education. We were losing teachers. They could make more money as a cocktail waitress. I just thought that was a horrible situation. I began from the very beginning to get increased pay for our teachers. I have continued to work for more funding for elementary and secondary education, including smaller class sizes, giving the teachers the tools they needed for discipline in the class. And it's just been the same thing with higher education. Old Dominion University is in my district. I recently received a certificate of appreciation from the Board of Visitors of ODU for funding they got in 1997 session of General Assembly. They got the highest increase in funding in the history of the college. The same thing is true with Tidewater Community College. The governor had cut the funds for the college, the legislature restored those funds, and I played a large part in doing that. It's one of the reasons they named the college after me. I was one of the original patrons of the Community College bill. I have voted consistently for increased penalties for crime and also for more law enforcement officers on the street. In addition to that, I have strongly supported any method by which we could improve the water quality in the Chesapeake Bay and the environment in general. I chaired the commission on the Future of Virginia's Environment, and out of that came the new Water Quality Act, and that was the first time that we had set aside a percentage of funds to be appropriated year after year to help localities on water source pollution and to remedy that so they will not get into our tributaries and roll into the Bay.

I am the first speaker from Norfolk since 1792, and it took me a long time to get to this position, and, frankly, I would like to hold it for a little longer. As speaker, I have the authority to appoint all of the committees and to assign the bills to the various committees.

And as such, I can influence the appropriation committee in making sure the fundings I have already discussed will come into fruition. It makes sure that (the General Assembly will address) an interest that is of paramount interest to the city of Norfolk - and I work very closely with our City Council, with constitutional officers, including the sheriff.

I can remember one time Sheriff McCabe called me and needed additional deputies; that was done with about one phone call. . . . Probably one of the most influential positions in the state legislature is the speaker, if not the most. For that reason, when we meet with our council and they tell us they have problems with funding or schools, I'm in a position to make sure they pretty well get what they want.

The governor, two years ago when he first came into office, cut the funding for higher education, primary and secondary education. We restored that funding, also the funding for Tidewater Community College, and we're not finished with that yet.

My campaign slogan many years ago was ``Norfolk First.'' That's how I got started, because I felt our city was not getting its fair share of resources. It took a long time for us to get there. I think I can continue to make sure that happens.

When George Allen was right, I supported him. Frankly, I did support him on his abolition of parole and truth in sentencing.

I always do what I think is in the best interest of my constituents regardless of party affiliation, but frankly, in most cases, the two go hand in glove.

G.R. ``BUD'' WEST

Born: 3/22/58, in Normandy, Mo.

Years living in city/district: Since April 1991

Education: Master's in management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; undergraduate degree in sociology from the State University of New York system; associate's degree from Southern Baptist College.

Occupation: Training and development manager for an international business consulting firm.

Party affiliation and official endorsements: Republican. Received the endorsement of the Republican Party of Virginia and the Norfolk Republican Party.

Political experience/community service: Lost bid to represent the 88th district two years ago during party nominating process. Served in Navy for 17 years, retiring as a Chief Petty Officer. Ordained minister, now serving as the Minister of Music at Burrows Memorial Baptist Church in Norfolk. Member of the Norfolk Republican Party, the Republican Party of Virginia and the Republican National Committee.

How citizens can reach you: Phone 627-9735 or e-mail budwest(AT)mail.concentric.net

I fully support (Republican Gubernatorial candidate) Jim Gilmore's personal property tax plan for the commonwealth, to pay the localities on the first $20,000 value of privately owned cars and light trucks. Many economic middle-class families work until the middle of the year paying taxes. It is time for tax relief. In that regard, however, I am concerned by some of the comments I've read from local citizens, worried about where the money is coming from or that education will take a back seat. The Gilmore plan, as I understand it, will be funded directly from taxes collected from a tax base that will continue to expand just as it has under the Allen-Gilmore administration - $5.5 billion from new business. In addition, the tax relief will be phased in only after Gilmore's plan for 4,000 new public school teachers is up and running.

I am committed to real education reform, not just throwing more money after marginally successful programs with escalating administrative overhead. Specifically, I believe that we can and should have 4,000 more teachers in public school classrooms across the commonwealth to reduce class size. I am also convinced that the national level Democratic Party initiative to give federal dollars directly to the school districts - with no strings attached - to establish public charter schools, is a step in the right direction. This is especially true to meet the needs of potentially ``at-risk'' students. Finally, I consider it shameful that in this day and age only those who belong to economic upper-middle-class or upper-class have a choice as to where to send their children to school. With simple tax rebates and incentives, we could give parents real choices to ensure that their children maximize their potential.

All recent, responsible studies of crime and crime prevention that I have read revealed that the vast majority of violent crimes are committed by repeat offenders. Truth-in-sentencing, the standard of no parole, three strikes-you're out for violent offenders, and other anti-crime initiatives championed by the Allen-Gilmore administration have been directly responsible for a marked reduction in the violent crime rate across the commonwealth. I fully support policies that have proven to make our streets safer.

In order to make the welfare-to-work program effective and successful, it will take the personal involvement of elected officials at all levels of government. (Republican) Delegates Thelma Drake from Norfolk and Bob McDonnell from Virginia Beach have taken a strong lead in bringing experts and concerned citizens together on a monthly basis to find real solutions to tough problems. Having lived on public assistance as a child and as a teen-ager, I know some of the difficulties first-hand. I will work hard to take a strong lead in asking the difficult questions and to search for equitable solutions to the challenging situations - especially in the areas of day care and transportation - that are sure to arise in the welfare-to-work transition period. ILLUSTRATION: Photos

THOMAS WARREN MOSS JR.

G.R. ``BUD'' WEST KEYWORDS: ELECTION VIRGINIA HOUSE OF DELEGATES RACE

VIRGINIA 88TH DISTRICT PROFILE CANDIDATES

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