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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 8, 1995                   TAG: 9511080037
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: DWAYNE YANCEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

NOT MANY UPSETS IN THE REST OF WESTERN VIRGINIA

A COMEBACK in Augusta County; a new victory for the senator from Bluefield; a win in Buchanan County by the former UMW leader ...

These are the results of other General Assembly races in Western Virginia:

Hanger ousts Nolen

73 of 73 precincts reporting

Frank Nolen (D) 20,842--47%

Emmett Hanger (R) 22,378--50%

Elise Sheffield (G) 1,228---3%

Former Del. Emmett Hanger made a comeback, ousting state Sen. Frank Nolen, D-Augusta County. Nolen had been one of the most conservative Democrats in the legislature, but his Rockbridge County-to-Rockingham County district also is one of the state's most Republican strongholds, and he succumbed to GOP efforts to paint him as a liberal. Democrats also conceded that the energetic Hanger outworked the more laid-back Nolen.

Reasor wins again

82 of 83 precincts reporting

Jack Reasor (D) 27,301--64%

Frank Nunez (R) 15,599--36%

State Sen. Jack Reasor, D-Bluefield, won a second term in the district that stretches from Wythe County to Washington County, defeating Republican Frank Nunez, a retired library services coordinator from Russell County. Reasor has been mentioned as a possible Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor or attorney general in 1997.

Stump re-elected

34 of 35 precincts reporting

Jackie Stump (D) 12,329--64%

Tom Scott (R) 6,916--36%

Del. Jackie Stump, D-Buchanan County, best-known as the United Mine Workers' leader who won a last-minute write-in campaign against a long-term incumbent during the Pittston Coal strike in 1989, beat back his first challenger, Grundy lawyer Tom Scott.

Tate beats Kidd

36 of 37 precincts reporting

John Tate (D) 10,484--52%

Barnes Kidd (R) 9,597--48%

Many in both parties thought it was a fluke when Republican Barnes Kidd of Tazewell County upset a longtime Democratic incumbent two years ago, and many thought he'd be vulnerable this time around. They were right. Kidd, whose campaign was so disorganized that at one point the state Republican Party took over, fell to a strong Democratic challenge by Marion lawyer John Tate.

Reynolds re-elected

37 of 37 precincts reporting

Roscoe Reynolds (D) 10,258--59%

Phil Plaster (R) 7,151--41%

Del. Roscoe Reynolds, D-Henry County, fended off a strong Republican challenge from Patrick County Supervisor Phil Plaster to win a sixth term. It was the first opposition Reynolds had faced since he was elected in 1985, and Republicans tried to contend that he'd been inattentive to local issues and constituent services. But Reynolds is one of the most conservative Democrats in the House, making it difficult for Republicans to portray him as a liberal.

Armstrong re-elected

32 of 32 precincts reporting

Ward Armstrong (D) 11,653--64%

Larry Roach (R) 6,656--36%

Del. Ward Armstrong, D-Henry County, who ran some of the most offbeat advertising in the state, won a third term over Henry County School Board member Larry Roach. Armstrong, a strong defender of rural interests, ran ads on Martinsville's raucous Cable 6 in which he impersonated the station's on-air personalities and played up his interest in toy trains.

Deeds re-elected

56 of 56 precincts reporting

Creigh Deeds (D) 13,151--72%

Ben Nicely (R) 4,539--25%

Stephanie Porras (G) 637---3%

Del. Creigh Deeds, D-Bath County, won a third term, turning back a challenge by Rockbridge County Supervisor Ben Nicely, a former Democrat who began the campaign with only lukewarm support from the Republican Party. Stephanie Porras was the Green Party candidate, one of three environmental activists from Rockbridge County who were seeking General Assembly seats.

Bryant succeeds Newman

16 of 16 precincts reporting

Gil Cobbs (D) 7,819--48%

Preston Bryant (R) 8,597--52%

Lynchburg City Councilman Preston Bryant will take over the seat once held by Del. Steve Newman, a fellow Republican who gave it up to run for the state Senate. Bryant won a hard-fought race over Democrat Gil Cobbs, a retired educator who lost to Newman two years ago.

Wilkins re-elected

24 of 24 precincts reporting

Ed Plunkett (D) 6,769--36%

Vance Wilkins (R) 11,735--62%

Eric Sheffield (G) 528---3%

Del. Vance Wilkins of Amherst County, the Republican leader in the House, beat back a stiff Democratic challenge by Augusta County lawyer Ed Plunkett.

Keywords:
ELECTION

by CNB