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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 9, 1994                   TAG: 9411090092
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS|
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                 LENGTH: Medium

BYRNE LOSES; OTHER HOUSE INCUMBENTS KEEP SEATS

Virginia's first congresswoman lost her bid for a second term Tuesday while the state's 10 other U.S. House of Representatives members easily won re- election.

In Northern Virginia's 11th District, Democrat Leslie Byrne lost to Republican Tom Davis, chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. Davis had 50 percent to 46 percent for Byrne with 72 percent of the precincts reporting.

Six other Democratic incumbents kept their seats and all four Republican congressmen won re-election.

Rep. Herbert Bateman, R-Newport News, won a lopsided victory for a seventh term over Democrat Mary Sinclair, a York County supervisor. Bateman had 76 percent and Sinclair 22 percent with about half of the precincts reporting.

Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Roanoke, had no opponent and Reps. Thomas Bliley, R-Richmond, and Frank Wolf, R-Fairfax County, enjoyed easy victories over little-known independents.

In a rematch of a race two years ago, Rep. Owen Pickett, D-Virginia Beach, beat lawyer James L. Chapman IV. The incumbent had 59 percent to 41 percent for Chapman with 91 percent of the precincts reporting.

In another rematch, Rep. James Moran, D-Alexandria, turned back lawyer Kyle McSlarrow. Moran had 57 percent to 41 percent for McSlarrow with 61 percent of the precincts in.

The state's only black congressman, Rep. Robert Scott, D-Newport News, defeated Republican Tom Ward. Scott, in his first bid for re-election, had 80 percent of the vote with 88 percent of precincts reporting.

Rep. Norman Sisisky, D-Petersburg, survived a bitter campaign against Republican George Sweet, a Chesapeake minister. The six-term incumbent had 62 percent of the vote and Sweet 38 percent with three-quarters of the precincts reporting.

Byrne appeared to be the most vulnerable incumbent going into Election Day. She became the first woman elected to Congress from Virginia in winning the newly created district two years ago in a nasty campaign against a Republican college professor.

In Congress, she has pushed a liberal agenda by voting with environmental and labor interests and for expansion of social programs for children.

A moderate Republican, Davis has taken a bipartisan approach to issues during 14 years on the board of Virginia's most populous county. He has pushed for homeless shelters, appointing more minorities to county posts and fiscal restraint.