ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, March 29, 1997 TAG: 9703310062
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: SUFFOLK
SOURCE: LOUIS HANSEN AND ROBERT LITTLE THE ROANOKE TIMES
Nelms admitted that his arrest in the public park eroded some support among party loyalists.
Del. Robert Nelms, the Suffolk Republican who admitted exposing himself to an undercover police officer in Richmond last year, announced Friday that he will not seek re-election in November.
A member of the House of Delegates since 1991, Nelms admitted that his arrest in the public park eroded some support among party loyalists and influenced his decision.
``When you get the hell beat out of you over and over again, you get tired of it,'' Nelms said. ``I'm tired of it.''
The 37-year-old Suffolk native said he was proud of his work in Richmond, including sponsoring legislation on Workers' compensation reform and support of the planned expansion of the southwest leg of U.S. Route 58. ``I've accomplished the things I wanted to do,'' he said.
The announcement marked a reversal for Nelms, who earlier this year called for a Republican primary and said he intended to fight for his seat. Democrats had pulled for him ever since, considering him as vulnerable a candidate as Republicans could nominate.
Nelms said Friday he had prepared for a contentious primary - and showed off a stack of voter petitions which he said held 500 signatures.
But he pulled back three weeks before the April 11 filing deadline. ``I've been thinking about this for a couple of months,'' he said. ``This week I made up my mind.'' Filing for the race opened Tuesday.
Nelms was charged Feb. 15, 1996, with exposing himself to an undercover vice officer in Richmond's Byrd Park, known in the capital city as a cruising spot for homosexuals. He said he merely stepped off a path to relieve himself, but the officer thought otherwise and charged him with indecent exposure.
Claiming legislative immunity because the General Assembly was in session at the time, Nelms had the charge thrown out, but prosecutors had it reinstated after the General Assembly adjourned.
Nelms pleaded guilty in June. He was fined $50, given a 30-day suspended jail term and ordered to stay out of Richmond city parks.
``The only thing I wouldn't do again is take a leak in a Richmond park,'' he said Friday.
Nelms added that he was anxious ``to get on with my professional career.'' He has a small environmental consulting company and will help run a family-owned land management company, Nelms Corp.
He did not rule out a return to politics. ``It's in my blood,'' he said.
Kenneth Carpenter, GOP chairman in the 76th District, said that local Republican supporters were concerned about Nelms' losing the seat they had recently won after two decades of Democratic control.
Nelms' flagging support ``was pretty evident all over'' the Republican ranks, Carpenter said.
LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) Nelms KEYWORDS: POLITICS: GENERAL ASSEMBLYby CNB