                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Sunday, July 17, 1994                  TAG: 9407150248
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER       PAGE: 23   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY JEFF HOOTEN, STAFF WRITER 
                                             LENGTH: Long  :  111 lines

COUNCIL REPUBLICANS DOMINATE CITY COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS

The City Council's two remaining Democrats were unable to prevent Republicans from dominating new liaison appointments, which give council members a chance to work with the city's department heads and other leaders.

When Vice Mayor Arthur L. Dwyer passed out the list of committee assignments for council approval at Tuesday's council meeting, Mayor William E. Ward complained that he was left out of the appointment process and that Councilman John W. Butt was only assigned to one committee.

``Given his 12 years of experience, particularly on Economic Development and some of the other major committees, I thought it was unfair to strip (Butt) of major committee assignments,'' Ward said Thursday.

Ward and Butt are the only Democrats on the city's first-ever Republican majority council.

Butt, who in the past had served on several different committees, called the list a move toward ``apartheid'' on the council.

``I have never tried to be a Democrat or Republican once I was elected,'' Butt said.

``Some members of this council are not being fair tonight,'' he said. ``We all need to be members of a team.''

Dwyer countered by saying that Butt had been offered - and turned down - several committee assignments.

The mayor traditionally does not serve on the committees.

The six Republican council members each were appointed to between five and seven committees. Alan P. Krasnoff, the council's lone independent, was appointed to three committees.

Butt and Ward were alone in voting against the assignments.

Ward stressed that the committees have no power to change city policy.

``Only council makes policy,'' he said. ``We have to be careful that these committee members don't overstep their bounds and become quasi-department heads.''

Republicans first served notice of their willingness to reign with force at the previous council meeting, when Dwyer was elected vice mayor. Dwyer then proposed creating a new council position of ``secretary'' and immediately nominated political ally Robert T. Nance Jr. to fill the position.

Once again, Ward and Butt were alone in opposing the move. ILLUSTRATION: CITY COUNCIL LIAISON APPOINTMENTS

The City Council divides its members among committees to act as

liaisons to city departments and other organizations. The groups

can't have more than two members - or it's a public meeting.

John E. Allen (R):

Airport Authority Committee

Budget/Finance Committee

Housing and Redevelopment Authority Committee

Hospital Committee

Legislative Committee

Port Authority Committee

Public Works Committee

Councilman John W. Butt (D):

TRT Committee

Councilman John M. de Triquet (R):

Education Committee

Hospital Committee

Public Utilities Committee

Social/Human Services Committee

SPSA Committee

Councilman Peter P. Duda Jr. (R):

Cable Television Committee

Economic Development Committee

Education Committee

Parks and Recreation Committee

Public Safety Committee

Public Works Committee

SPSA Committee

Councilman Arthur L. Dwyer (R):

Planning Committee

Port Authority Committee

Rules Committee

Sister Cities Committee

Social/Human Services Committee

Councilman Alan P. Krasnoff (I):

Hampton Roads Planning District Commission Committee

Legislative Committee

Planning Committee

Councilman Robert T. Nance (R):

Agribusiness Committee