Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 4, 1992 TAG: 9203040215
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LARRY O'DELL ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
As lawmakers made a beeline for the exits, someone suggested perhaps the independent caucus also should meet.
"Good idea," said Del. Lacey Putney. "We could have it in a phone booth."
A phone booth would provide space aplenty. Putney is the lone independent among the General Assembly's 140 members - a distinction that has carried a political price, but one the Bedford County lawyer has been willing to pay.
Although his three decades of service make him the senior member of the House, the 63-year-old Putney is shut out of leadership positions because he has no party affiliation.
It wasn't always like that. Putney was elected as a Democrat, and says he would have become speaker of the House had he not quit the party in the late 1960s.
"Anyone would like to see their footprints in the sands of history and their name inscribed on that marble plaque in the House chamber," Putney said. "But I have no regrets."
Putney said he became an independent when the Democratic Party began insisting that its candidates sign a loyalty oath. Putney, who considers himself a conservative, said he could not promise to support some of the party's more liberal national candidates.
"I couldn't sign that loyalty oath in good conscience," Putney said. "But the way I look at it, I didn't leave the party. The party left me."
Putney said the senior member of the majority party on the Privileges and Elections Committee used to be elevated to the speaker's position. Putney serves on that committee, and says he would have been in line for the speaker's job ahead of the late A.L. Philpott had he not gone independent.
A lack of party affiliation has other disadvantages, Putney said.
"In running for office, you don't have the party machinery working for you and it's hard to raise funds," he said.
Yet Putney takes heart in the belief that his independence gives him something in common with most of his constituents.
"Way over 50 percent of the people consider themselves independent," Putney said. "Most Americans vote for the person, not the party."
He added that being an independent has not hurt his ability to get legislation approved. He introduced 10 bills this session. He asked that one be carried over until 1993, and "the other nine are well on their way to passage," he said.
Despite his own success, Putney said he has discouraged many candidates from running as independents.
"Had I not been a member of the majority party initially, I would not have received good committee assignments," said Putney, who is on the Appropriations and Agriculture committees in addition to Privileges and Elections. "It's just a lot less difficult if you're affiliated with one of the major parties."
Although he is an independent, Putney's voting record has a decidedly Republican bent. He is frequently called a "Republican-leaning independent," and he said the description doesn't bother him.
"It's accurate," he said.
Putney said that in recent years he has received "some very generous overtures from the Republican Party for leadership positions," but has declined.
House Minority Leader Vance Wilkins, R-Amherst, said the GOP "would love to have Lacey." But he said he understands Putney's reluctance to join a party.
"As it is, he's able to effectively work with both parties," Wilkins said. "When he wants something, he's about as effective as anyone down here. Both sides like him."
Putney said that for the past 12 years, he has entertained thoughts about retiring, "so there was no need to" affiliate with the GOP.
by CNB