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

DATE: SATURDAY, June 17, 1995                   TAG: 9506190007
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-9   EDITION: METRO   
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

READY FOR THE MAIN EVENT

THIS FALL'S legislative elections are shaping up - have been, in fact, since the past session in which a Democrat-controlled General Assembly defeated Republican Gov. George Allen's budget plans - as a statewide referendum on Virginia's future direction. The issue has been more or less put on the ballot by the governor, who wants to take Virginia down a new philosophical path. The Democrats hope to divert him, or at least slow him down.

In House and Senate contests throughout the state, Allen's agenda will be debated. Local issues, incumbents' voting records, and candidates' experience, qualifications, virtues and peccadillos may figure less in campaigns than is traditionally the case.

The reason for the focus is clear: Allen's program, including proposed cuts in state spending and taxes, and dramatic shifts in policy, is being frustrated by Democratic lawmakers. Though their majority has dwindled, Democrats still hold a slim edge in both House and Senate.

This year, not only is their majority status at stake. So is Allen's governorship. Without a GOP takeover in at least one of the legislative chambers, Allen may have to kiss his program good-bye, and expect to be relegated to the footnotes as one of Virginia's less-effective chief executives.

It's too soon for predictions or analyses of all the election bodes. School's out; it's summertime - time for picnics, not politics. But before things get too partisan, both parties should be credited for a good job of organizing for November. Voters across the state will get more and clearer choices than they often enjoy.

Republicans are fielding their largest-ever group of legislative candidates. In the House, 45 of 47 Republicans are seeking re-election, and 42 candidates were recruited for six open seats and as challengers for 36 sitting Democrats. In the Senate, all 18 Republican incumbents are seeking re-election; and 35 newcomers are vying for two seats being vacated by Democrats and 15 seats that Democrats are trying to hold on to.

In the House, 50 of 52 Democrats are seeking re-election; and the party has recruited a record number (30) of new candidates for the open seats and as challengers to GOP incumbents. Democrats aren't in quite as good a defensive position in the Senate. There, 20 Democratic incumbents are running, and Democrats won't cede two open seats without a fight. (For one, that of retiring Sen. Elliott Schewel of Lynchburg, it was a last-minute save. Democrat Barbara Coleman, a teacher, jumped in as a candidate only hours before the deadline had passed.) But Democrats enlisted challengers for only seven of the 18 incumbent Republicans, giving 11, including Sen. ``Bo'' Trumbo of Fincastle, a free ride.

In fund raising, the parties seem competitive. They start out with coffers almost even-steven. A recent Virginia Commonwealth University poll also suggests rough party parity in voters' minds.

Political junkies love the prospect of the coming duke-it-out. Others may dread the ugliness sure to envelop races with stakes this high. Love it or lump it, everyone should pay attention. This is one of the state's most important legislative elections ever. All Virginians will be affected by the outcome.

Keywords:
POLITICS

Memo: ***CORRECTION***

by CNB