Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 8, 1995 TAG: 9511080042
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: WARREN FISKE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Results late Tuesday night strongly suggested that the 40 seats in the state Senate would be split evenly between Democrats and Republicans next year. That leaves Lt. Gov. Don Beyer, a Democrat, in position to be a crucial tie-breaker in the chamber.
Little changed in the House of Delegates, where Democrats appeared to retain their 52-to-47 majority over Republicans. Del. Lacey Putney of Bedford is the one independent in the House.
The most dramatic result came in Hampton, where Senate Majority Leader Hunter Andrews, a Democrat, was defeated by Newport News Vice Mayor Marty Williams.
Andrews, a 32-year veteran of the Senate, had come to embody the Democrats' century-old control of the chamber. He was widely considered to be the most powerful member of the Senate through his role as chairman of the Finance Committee.
Also defeated was state Sen. Clarence Holland, D-Virginia Beach, a 12-year member of the chamber. He was beaten by Ed Schrock, an investment counselor and former Navy officer.
In the Roanoke Valley, first-term Republican state Sen. Brandon Bell was defeated by Democrat John Edwards, a lawyer and Roanoke's vice mayor.
Celebrity candidates met a mixed fate. In Charlottesville, Democrat Emily Couric, the sister of television broadcaster Katie Couric, defeated one-term Republican state Sen. Edgar Robb.
But in Alexandria, Democratic Del. Linda Puller easily defeated Republican Sandy Liddy Bourne, the daughter of radio broadcaster G. Gordon Liddy.
Allen, who campaigned vigorously for Republicans over the past two months and established a political action committee that raised $1.2 million on their behalf, could not be reached for comment. He failed to show up as expected at a GOP celebration in Richmond.
The split in the Senate could spark a legal challenge by Republicans to Beyer's voting privileges. Under the state Constitution, the lieutenant governor presides over the Senate and is allowed to vote on legislation only to break ties.
At issue is whether Beyer can break a stalemate to keep Democrats in charge of making all-important committee assignments in the Senate. The assignments are made by the majority party. Democrats have said Beyer can break the tie, but Republican sources said earlier this week that the constitution does not specifically authorize Beyer to vote on procedural resolutions such as committee assignments.
"It's uncharted territory,"' said a GOP legal adviser who asked not to be named. "If Beyer can't vote on resolutions, then Democrats and Republicans are going to have to find some way to compromise on committee assignments and chairmanships."
Beyer said he does not know how the question of his voting authority will be resolved. "I think it's too early to say," he said.
The lieutenant governor, who has long complained about his lack of official responsibilities, was amused that he has been suddenly cast in the spotlight. "I've always wanted to have something to do," he joked.
Sen. Stanley Walker, D-Norfolk, said the prospect of a split Senate will not make legislating any easier.
But other lawmakers expressed hope that the stalemate will force senators to form new coalitions and reduce the partisan bickering that marked the past year.
"We can expect strong coalition-building among conservatives on both sides of the aisle. Hopefully, we can work together cooperatively," said Sen. Walter Stosch, R-Richmond.
Republicans also expressed hope that they could convince conservative Democrats such as state Sen. Virgil Goode of Rocky Mount to switch parties. Reached at home Tuesday night, Goode said he had no comment.
Despite the uncertainty, Democratic leaders claimed an overall victory over Allen. Throughout the campaign, the governor had branded Democrats as wasteful spenders and soft on crime.
Democrats, in return, charged that the governor's tax-cutting plans would come at the expense of education, the elderly and the poor.
House Majority Leader Richard Cranwell, D-Roanoke County, said he viewed the election as a "victory for the kind, gentle, reasonable voices of Virginia."
Battle lines were drawn last winter when General Assembly Democrats defeated an Allen plan to cut state income taxes by $149 million, which would have saved an average family of four about $33 a year. They also rejected an Allen proposal to repeal a tax on gross business receipts that puts $300 million a year in local coffers.
To pay for his tax cuts, Allen proposed less spending on education, dropout prevention counseling, "Meals on Wheels' for senior citizens, local aid for law enforcement and mental health programs.
Polls showed that although Allen was personally popular with Virginia, there was little consensus for his agenda. Two of three Virginians credited state government with doing a good job; more than 50 percent said they did not think state taxes were excessive.
Democrats argued that there was no need to overhaul the state government.
"Contrary to the governor's claims, the lights are not going out in Virginia," Cranwell said. "If we continue to do business in Virginia just the way we've been doing it for the last 50 years, things will be fine."
Keywords:
ELECTION
by CNB