Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, April 24, 1995 TAG: 9504240075
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DWAYNE YANCEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
State Democratic Party Chairman Mark Warner sounded a pessimistic tone last week about the prospect of finding a strong candidate to oppose Republican Del. Steve Newman for the seat held by Democrat Elliot Schewel, who is retiring.
``Obviously, the Lynchburg seat is frustrating for us,'' Warner said during a visit through Western Virginia on Friday. He said Democrats originally had been optimistic about finding a strong contender ``because a number of Republicans weren't satisfied with the idea of Newman being in the Senate.''
So far, though, no Democrat has come forward.
``If we had the ability to put forward a pro-business moderate, I think we could hold that seat,'' Warner said. ``But I'm not sure that candidate is going to emerge.''
Why haven't Democrats been able to recruit a candidate for a seat that's now in Democratic hands?
``People were caught off guard'' by Schewel's retirement, Warner said. ``Most of the candidates we've got [elsewhere] started thinking about running six to nine months ago.'' That's also about the time Newman first started talking about running for the state Senate, whether Schewel retired or not.
Schewel announced his retirement in early March.
Democrats hold a 22-18 edge in the state Senate. With all legislative seats up for grabs this November, Republicans see the chance to pick up Schewel's seat as critical to winning a majority.
As for the Democrats' chances of holding the Schewel seat, Warner said, ``I'm pessimistic right now because we don't have a candidate.''
However, he said Democrats are hopeful of picking up as many as four other seats now held by Republicans. Among the four GOP-held state Senate seats that Warner says the party will target is the one occupied by Brandon Bell of Roanoke County.
Artis to declare this week
Del. Vic Thomas, D-Roanoke, this week will get his first Republican opposition since single-member districts were instituted in 1982.
Jeff Artis, an in-school suspension teacher at Patrick Henry High School and the publisher of the Black Conservative Newsletter, says he'll formally declare his candidacy Wednesday or Thursday.
Artis could have opposition for the nomination; Herb Krebs, who works in the parts department of a Roanoke forklift dealer, also has expressed interest in seeking the GOP nomination.
The district covers Southeast Roanoke, the Williamson Road area, parts of Northwest Roanoke and four precincts in North Roanoke County.
Allen raising bucks for Bell
The big guns already are coming out for state Sen. Brandon Bell, R-Roanoke County.
Gov. George Allen will be the main attraction at a Roanoke fund-raiser for Bell on Friday night. Allen will be in town for the grand opening of the Hotel Roanoke the next day - even though, this past winter, he had proposed eliminating state funding for the education and training program considered essential to the success of the hotel and its related conference center.
The Democratic-controlled General Assembly restored most of the hotel funding that Allen attempted to cut.
Bell is opposed by Democrat John Edwards, Roanoke's vice mayor.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB