Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, May 3, 1990                   TAG: 9005030142
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By Associated Press
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                                  LENGTH: Medium

2 VA. BEACH OFFICERS WIN VOTE, FACE JOB LOSS/ CITY LAW MAY FORCE THEM TO TURN

"The good news is we won the election. The bad news is I'll probably be looking for a job," Paul J. Lanteigne, a police sergeant, said after Tuesday's victory.

Lanteigne and Capt. James W. Brazier Jr. said Police Chief Charles R. Wall has told them he would have to fire them to conform with the city's ordinance and Police Department regulations.

A 26-year veteran of the force, Brazier said he would challenge his firing in court.

Both men were informed in February of the conflict with city ordinance. "As a candidate for City Council, you would be in a position to address and influence, in a political arena, issues directly affecting your department, your own employment and the employment of your fellow officers," said Fagan D. Stackhouse, city personnel director, in a letter to Lanteigne.

City Manager Aubrey V. Watts Jr. was meeting with the city attorney Wednesday to discuss the matter. Repeated calls to city officials were not returned.

Brazier defeated incumbent Albert W. Balko 16,779 to 16,015; Lanteigne defeated incumbent Barbara M. Henly 17,047 to 16,045.

Only two of the six incumbents were re-elected as voters expressed their apparent dissatisfaction over the handling of last year's Labor Day gathering of black college students, which ended in riots between young people and police, and the planning for the coming holiday weekend.

"I think we need to reconsider some of the proposals that have been presented to the council in relation to Laborfest 1990, particularly those that would encourage larger crowds to come to Virginia Beach for that weekend," said Louis R. Jones, one of the newly elected councilmen.

Jones, a former mayor, defeated incumbent John L. Perry, the council's only black, by more than 7,000 votes.

Last year, the council took a hands-off approach on the informal end-of-summer gathering of young people, many from predominantly black colleges and universities along the East Coast. City officials estimated more than 100,000 young people jammed the resort city's main beachfront thoroughfare.

When looting broke out, police in riot gear backed by state troopers cleared the streets. There were numerous injuries. More than $1.4 million in damage was done in the looting.

This year, the city appointed a citizens' group to help organize the event, with the pledge no city funds would be used. The group christened the event Laborfest and has begun planning various activities for the weekend with the council's approval.

Brazier said he supports the council's actions in approving some of the Laborfest plans. "I think we're going in the right direction. I do want the city to take a stand that we're not going to tolerate lawlessness."