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

DATE: TUESDAY, November 9, 1993                   TAG: 9311090196
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Short

HOUSE GOP REJECTS NEW, KEEPS OLD

Del. Vance Wilkins turned back a challenge by Del. John Watkins to win re-election as House of Delegates minority leader.

Wilkins, R-Amherst, was re-elected in an hour-long closed caucus Saturday at the Capitol. The vote totals were not announced.

Republicans picked up six seats in Tuesday's election. The 1994 House will have 52 Democrats, 47 Republicans and one independent.

Watkins, R-Midlothian, and his supporters contended he would be more effective than the more conservative Wilkins in lining up Democratic support for Republican Gov.-elect George Allen's programs.

Watkins said he argued that House Republicans need a leader who can forge "a philosophical majority" to support Allen administration programs, "and I just felt that I could deliver that kind of leadership."

"I think it was a matter of style more than substance, probably," Wilkins said after the vote. "He's a little more moderate and more conciliatory; I'm a little more aggressive. That's probably the biggest difference I heard in the discussion."

Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY

by CNB