ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, November 13, 1996 TAG: 9611130063
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: TODD JACKSON STAFF WRITER
Del. Roscoe Reynolds will announce today that he is running for the state Senate seat being vacated by Virgil Goode, who was elected to Congress last week.
The Henry County Democrat will kick off the day with a 7:30 breakfast at Franklin County's Snow Creek Christian Church. He'll then make stops in Rocky Mount, Floyd County, Hillsville, Vesta, Stuart and end the day at the Henry County Courthouse in Martinsville.
Reynolds, a lawyer and former Henry County commonwealth's attorney, was first elected to the General Assembly in 1985.
His opponent is Del. Allen Dudley, a Rocky Mount Republican.
The stakes are high: If Dudley wins, the Republican Party will gain majority control of the Senate for the first time since Reconstruction. A Reynolds victory would preserve the current 20-20 split.
Both parties will pour money into the race, which will garner statewide attention.
No one has to tell Lt. Gov. Don Beyer what's at stake.
The Democrat is preparing to run for governor next year, and a Reynolds victory could make Beyer's campaign much easier.
If the opposite happens and Republicans were to gain control of the Senate, GOP senators would have the upper hand on party-line votes that make it to the Senate floor. And, they would be in a better position to force Beyer - who presides over the Senate - to take stands on controversial legislative issues just months before the gubernatorial campaign.
Beyer met with Reynolds on Monday and later told reporters that he is going to do all he can to make sure the Democrat is elected.
Gov. George Allen, a Republican, is keeping his eye on the race as well. On election night he was asked about the race for Goode's soon-to-be-vacated Senate seat. Allen immediately brought up Dudley and took time to point out the delegate's son, A.J., who was in the crowd that night at a Northern Virginia hotel.
Goode also is an interesting factor in the race.
He is close friends of both of the men running to succeed him.
Reynolds and Goode have built a relationship during their years together in the General Assembly. Dudley and Goode are longtime friends and graduated together from Franklin County High School.
The special Senate election is expected to be Dec.17.
Another special election for Dudley's or Reynolds' House seat quickly will follow.
LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines KEYWORDS: POLITICS GENERAL ASSEMBLYby CNB