ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times

DATE: Saturday, December 2, 1995             TAG: 9512030021
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: C-4  EDITION: METRO 
DATELINE: RICHMOND
SOURCE: DAVID M. POOLE STAFF WRITER 

MOSS, CRANWELL STILL HEADS OF THE HOUSE

House Speaker Thomas Moss of Norfolk and Majority Leader Richard Cranwell of Roanoke County won unanimous reappointment Friday to their respective posts for the 1996-97 General Assembly term.

In an open-door meeting, House Democrats selected their leaders with a jovial mood, marking the fact that they held onto power in the November elections.

"It's good to be chairman of the majority party," chirped Del. Alan Diamonstein of Newport News.

The House Democrats also re-elected House Clerk Bruce Jamerson to another two-year term.

Though Moss and Jamerson each face a formal vote of the entire House of Delegates in January, the endorsement of the Democratic Caucus is tantamount to reappointment.

Moss, 67, has served in the House of Delegates since 1966 and rose to the speaker's position in 1992. The seat carries tremendous power: The speaker doles out committee assignments and can doom a bill by banishing it to a hostile panel.

Moss said Democrats are willing to work with Republicans if Gov. George Allen follows through on recent indications that he will ease his "in-your-face" politics.

"He can set the tone," Moss said.

Cranwell, 53, was elected to the House in 1971 and was named Democratic floor leader in 1991. Though his heart had been set on becoming speaker, Cranwell has put his wily nature and daring dealsmanship to good use as floor leader.

House Republicans met last month and reappointed Minority Leader Vance Wilkins of Amherst.

Senate Republicans and Democrats are scheduled to select leaders in separate meetings next week.

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