
DATE: Wednesday, November 5, 1997           TAG: 9711051113

SECTION: FRONT                   PAGE: A3D  EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY TERRI WILLIAMS, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH                        LENGTH:   60 lines

JOANNOU MAKES HIS RETURN AFTER 5-YEAR SABBATICAL WIN CAME DESPITE 2-1 FUND-RAISING EDGE FOR EVANS.

By a 1,000-vote margin, voters sent Democrat Johnny S. Joannou back to the General Assembly after a five-year absence. In the process, they blunted a GOP drive to control the House of Delegates.

Joannou, who has served eight years each in the House and the Senate, defeated Republican Dan Evans for the 79th House seat, a mostly Democratic district encompassing the majority of Portsmouth, all of Western Branch and a slice of Suffolk.

Supporters waited anxiously at the Ambassador Club as the results were phoned in. When the last precincts recorded Joannou's win, many hugged and cheered. Joannou finally walked in and heartily embraced and greeted his campaign workers, volunteers and friends. In a victory speech, he thanked his family and supporters.

``This is not my victory, this is your victory,'' Joannou told the crowds. ``What we're working for is a better future for all of us.''

Evans, in his second loss, watched silently as the returns came in at the Portsmouth Republican headquarters.

Despite the district's Democratic strength, the state GOP targeted the 79th and invested heavily in the Evans campaign. Its donations gave Evans a 2-1 edge in fund raising as of Oct. 1.

Joannou said he will use his 16 years of experience in Richmond to bring jobs and prosperity to the district. Joannou fills the seat vacated by William S. Moore, who resigned to fill a Portsmouth judgeship. In 1991, Joannou was defeated by Republican Fred Quayle in a bid for re-election to his third term to the state Senate.

Joannou, a self-described fiscal conservative, won't rush to support cuts in the personal property tax on cars and trucks. He favors a study before the Assembly acts. ILLUSTRATION: Photos

MARTIN SMITH-RODDEN/The Virginian-Pilot

Democrat Johnny S. Joannou reacts upon entering his victory party at

the Ambassador Club in Portsmouth on Tuesday night. ``This is not my

victory, this is your victory,'' he told the crowd.

The state GOP invested heavily in the losing campaign of Republican

Dan Evans.

Graphic

JOANNOU 53%

EVANS 47%

JOANNOU'S PRIORITIES

Education: Smaller classes, more computers, more money for

community colleges.