THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, December 7, 1995 TAG: 9512070348
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBERT LITTLE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium: 87 lines
Democrats in the state Senate elected a successor to the imperious Hunter B. Andrews Wednesday, naming as their leader a Fairfax legislator with his own reputation for confrontational politics.
Sen. Richard L. Saslaw, a 55-year-old gas station owner from Annandale, was named party leader during a 90-minute closed meeting of Senate Democrats. Saslaw will take over when legislators open the 1996 General Assembly Jan. 10.
As leader of the party in power in the Senate, Saslaw will preside over the chamber's daily schedule and serve as chief spokesman and deal-maker for Senate Democrats. Andrews, an august though often domineering leader, lost his seat during last month's election, part of a Republican surge that leaves the new Senate with a 20-20 partisan tie.
``Nobody will ever fill those shoes,'' Saslaw said. Will he seek Andrews' advice throughout the session? ``I'm going to call as often as he'll take my calls,'' Saslaw said.
Party members sounded conciliatory in announcing Saslaw's election, which ended a four-way internal tussle for the post. But they also made clear they consider Saslaw the Senate's majority leader, a title disputed by Republicans who now claim half the seats in the chamber.
That claim indicated that a potential partisan showdown could be brewing in a lawmaking body where Democrats hold only a tenuous majority. Republicans are demanding some system of shared leadership in the Senate, even though Lt. Gov. Donald S. Beyer Jr., a Democrat, has the power to break ties. Republicans are expected to name their own leader next Tuesday. And conservative Sen. Virgil H. Goode, the chamber's most Republican-friendly Democrat, continued to fuel speculation that he would thwart the party's majority. Goode, who has rejected suggestions that he might switch parties, unexpectedly skipped Wednesday's meeting. He could not be reached for comment.
``Not to criticize Dick, because I think he's a fine senator, but party leader doesn't mean all that much any more,'' said Sen. Kenneth W. Stolle, R-Virginia Beach.
``I think what you're going to find out is that the floor leader's position is now going to be one more of mechanics. It's a whole new world.''
In Saslaw, Democrats selected a hardened 16-year Senate veteran with a taste for conflict. Beyer offered praise to a host of Democratic leaders after Wednesday's meeting. When time came to extol Saslaw, he simply chuckled: ``Well, I believe that you can fight and be a healer at the same time.''
In that sense, Saslaw could mimic the style of Andrews. His obstinacy and fiery rhetoric have branded him a mischief-maker of sorts. Asked to characterize his style, Saslaw responded: ``Dickie Cranwell Lite,'' a reference to the tigerish majority leader in the House of Delegates.
But Andrews had claim to virtually all the top leadership positions in the Senate. Saslaw will neither serve as head of the powerful finance committee, as Andrews did, nor bring to the job three decades of expertise about the state budget and Virginia politics.
At an amicable meeting to announce Saslaw's election, Senate Democrats talked of creating a new power-sharing arrangement within the party. Members expect to name an assistant floor leader and two or more regional whips, who poll senators to gauge support.
Saslaw denied that the new arrangement would dilute the power typically bestowed on a majority leader, though he predicted ``things will certainly be much different.''
Senate Democrats also named Norfolk Sen. Stanley C. Walker as Senate president pro tempore, considered a formality. Walker has held the post since 1987.
The group also reappointed Sen. Richard J. Holland of Isle of Wight County to head the committee that will assign membership to the Senate's lawmaking committees. Holland is expected to take over as chairman of a Senate committee, possibly the one responsible for settling the rules of the chamber.
Norfolk Sen. Yvonne B. Miller is in line to become chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services. The committee considers bills about alcoholic beverages, prisons and correctional centers, drugs, morals, social services and welfare. Those decisions are expected to be announced within two weeks.
The other senators considered for Saslaw's leadership position were Joseph V. Gartlan Jr. of Fairfax; Edward R. Houck of Spotsylvania; and Jackson E. Reasor Jr. of Bluefield. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Saslaw calls his style, ``Dickie Cranwell Lite,'' referring to the
majority leader in the House of Delegates.
KEYWORDS: VIRGINIA STATE SENATE by CNB