Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 6, 1991 TAG: 9102060017
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
But Barbara M. Stafford and L. Karen Darner have some things in common. They're the only new members in this year's House of Stafford Delegates, and they were familiar enough with the legislative process to know what to expect in their first session.
Stafford, R-Giles, said she learned about the assembly by accompanying her late husband, Del. C. Jefferson Stafford, to the Virginia Capitol on several occasions during their nine-year marriage. Jeff Stafford, a 19-year House veteran, died of cancer last year, and his widow was elected to succeed him.
Darner, D-Arlington, learned the ropes as an 1978-82 aide to Sen. Edward M. Holland. An Arlington school speech therapist, she also had been involved in Virginia Education Association lobbying and was active in local Democratic politics for two decades.
After 17-year House veteran Warren G. Stambaugh died of a heart attack last year, Darner, 45, defeated Stambaugh's widow, Rosemary, for the Democratic nomination and won the seat in a special election.
Darner and Stafford said they usually agreed with their predecessors on legislative issues.
"There were a few times we disagreed," said Stafford, 37. "On parental consent [for abortion], maybe I disagreed with Jeff. I really haven't made up my mind on the issue yet, but Jeff was against it."
Stafford grew up in a family that was active in Republican politics. "Since I was a kid, I've been going door-to-door for candidates," she said. "It was just a big part of our life."
She said the knowledge she gained from her late husband has been helpful in her first session, but she still has taken the traditional freshman approach. "I listen a lot. I already knew a lot of the people when I came up here. . . . But I'm certainly still in the learning stages."
Stafford introduced no bills or resolutions. "My feeling is there are too many bills introduced anyway," she said. "Some of them don't really do anything. There's no way you can go over everything thoroughly before voting on it."
Darner agreed that digesting all the information dumped on legislators is a problem. Like Stafford, she has been reluctant to participate in floor debates.
However, Darner did sponsor a half-dozen bills. Her first, allowing local governments to charge a fee for late payment of certain parking tickets, was passed by the House, 100-0.
Stafford and Darner hope to seek re-election in November, when all 140 Assembly seats are up.
That could be easier for Darner than for Stafford. The Democrat-controlled General Assembly will draw new districts in April.
Steve Haner, Joint Republican Caucus executive director, said Stafford's district could be combined with that of Del. Thomas Baker, R-Dublin. "Then we'd have to decide who to run," Haner said.
"I've heard that mentioned, but we'll just have to wait and see where the lines are drawn," Stafford said.
by CNB