ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, November 3, 1996 TAG: 9611050011
SECTION: HORIZON PAGE: 4 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: VOTER'S GUIDE
SOURCE: DWAYNE YANCEY
The other congressional elections across Virginia are considered lopsided affairs that have attracted little attention. Here's an overview:
1ST DISTRICT
Includes most of Hampton, Newport News and the rural counties along the Chesapeake Bay.
Republican Herb Bateman is unopposed for an eighth term; his Democratic opponent dropped out during the summer.
2ND DISTRICT
Includes most of Norfolk and Virginia Beach.
Democrat Owen Pickett is seeking a sixth term; he's challenged by Republican John Tate, who heads direct-mail and phone-bank operations for the National Right-to-Work Committee. This district leans Republican, but Pickett's moderate reputation and work on military issues make him the favorite.
3RD DISTRICT
Stretches along the James River from Richmond to Norfolk.
Democrat Robert "Bobby" Scott is seeking a fourth term; he's challenged by Republican Elsie Holland, an assistant school principal from Richmond. The state's only black-majority district is solidly Democratic.
4TH DISTRICT
Stretches from Petersburg to Chesapeake.
Democrat Norman Sisisky is seeking an eighth term; he's challenged by Hopewell City Councilman Tony Zevgolis. This is a rematch of the 1992 contest, which Sisisky won by a wide margin.
7TH DISTRICT
Stretches from Richmond to the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Republican Tom Bliley is seeking a ninth term; he's challenged by Democrat Roderic Slayton, an Orange County lawyer, and independent Brad Evans. This is one of the most Republican districts in the state; Bliley, who heads the House Commerce Committee, has spent part of the fall campaigning for fellow Republicans in tobacco districts across the South.
8TH DISTRICT
Includes Arlington, Alexandria and part of Fairfax County.
Democrat Jim Moran is seeking a fourth term; he's challenged by Republican John Otey, an aviation contractor, and three minor-party contenders: Ward Edmonds of the Virginia Independent/Reform Party; Sarina Grosswald of the Natural Law Party; and independent Charles Severance. This is usually a heavily Democratic district and there's little sign that will change.
10TH DISTRICT
Stretches from Fairfax County to Shenandoah County.
Republican Frank Wolf is seeking a ninth term; he's challenged by Democrat Robert Weinberg and Libertarian Gary Reams. Wolf defeated Weinberg by a 2-1 margin in 1988, and redistricting appears to have made the district more Republican since then.
11TH DISTRICT
Includes parts of Fairfax County and Prince William County.
Republican Tom Davis is seeking a second term; he's challenged by Democrat Tom Horton, a Falls Church lawyer. This is one of the most volatile districts in the state, and Horton has waged a surprisingly aggressive campaign to reclaim this seat for the Democrats. But Davis appeals to moderate voters, and is considered secure. Some already are touting him as a potential Senate candidate someday.
LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines KEYWORDS: POLITICS CONGRESSby CNB