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

DATE: SUNDAY, March 31, 1991                   TAG: 9103310169
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-3   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: BIG STONE GAP                                LENGTH: Medium

REGISTRARS QUESTION STATUTE/ SUIT SEEKS TO END OFFICE'S POLITICS

Three Southwestern Virginia registrars claim politics should play no part in whether they are reappointed to their county positions and have sought the help of the U.S. District Court.

Wise County Registrar Tom Chester, Russell Registrar Clarice Phillips and Lee Registrar Doris McConnell filed suit Friday in U.S. District Court asking that the counties be temporarily restrained from taking any action against them and that they be reinstated to their jobs.

Each claims they were not reappointed because of politics. Each plaintiff seeks $50,000 in compensation and that Virginia's statute regulating registrars' hiring be declared unconstitutional.

Virginia registrars are appointed by a county's three-member Electoral Board to serve a four-year term. All registrars were up for reappointment this April.

Chester claims the Wise County board did not reappoint him because he supported a candidate challenging incumbent Del. Jack Kennedy, D-Norton, in the past election. Kennedy's mother sits on the Electoral Board.

Phillips alleges she was not reappointed because her husband, the county Democratic Party chairman, supported a candidate who successfully opposed Kevin McGlothlin for the party nomination for a House of Delegates seat. McGlothlin's brother, Circuit Judge Donald McGlothlin, makes the Electoral Board appointments.

McConnell claims the Lee County Electoral Board did not reappoint her because she was a Republican.

Named as defendants are the respective Electoral Board members, the new registrars, the counties and the State Board of Elections.

This will mark the third time McConnell has filed such a suit. This time, however, she is asking the court to find that her firings demonstrate a pattern of misconduct and disregard for her rights by the Electoral Board. She is seeking $1 million in punitive damages against the Electoral Board members.

Arguments are set for Tuesday in Roanoke on the temporary restraining order and reinstatement while the suits proceed.

by CNB