THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, November 2, 1994 TAG: 9411020019
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A20 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Long : 107 lines
The U.S. Senate race in Virginia has gotten most of the attention this election year, but it is not the only election on the ballot. Voters will be choosing U.S. representatives in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th congressional districts. We endorse only in those contests where we believe there is a genuine contest, a decision we base on news reports, conversations with party leaders and our own reporting. Therefore, we are not endorsing in the 3rd District, which includes parts of Norfolk, Portsmouth and Suffolk and looks solid for incumbent Democratic Rep. Bobby Scott.
2nd District (Virginia Beach; parts of Norfolk): Democratic incumbent Owen Pickett has held the district since the retirement of Republican Rep. William Whitehurst in 1986. He is not a high-profile member of Congress, but in his eight years in Washington, he has carved out a moderately conservative record for himself.
He voted against the pork-laden Clinton economic stimulus package last year and he voted against the tax-raising 1994-95 budget. On the House Armed Services Committee, he has been a reliable vote to support the military bases and installations that are absolutely vital to the economic survival of Hampton Roads as well as the security of the country as a whole. He voted not to slash funding for the Strategic Defense Initiative, a program that is likely to become even more important as the threat of nuclear proliferation in the Third World increases.
Pickett's Republican challenger Jim Chapman is a credible, thoughtful candidate who would undoubtedly acquit himself well if elected. However, with so much at stake in the base-closing and realignment process next year, especially with Oceana Naval Air Station at risk, Hampton Roads needs all the clout and seniority it can get on the Armed Services Committee. For that reason, we endorse Rep. Owen Pickett for another term.
4th District (Chesapeake, parts of Portsmouth, Suffolk and Virginia Beach): Democratic incumbent Rep. Norman Sisisky joined Pickett and 20 other Democrats in voting against the ill fated economic stimulus package in March 1993. He voted in favor of the tax-increasing budget that came later, which disappointed us.
Still, he has compiled a generally creditable record over the years, especially on defense-related issues. He helped gain for Newport News Shipbuilding the latest nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. During the struggle to free Nicaragua, he was a solid vote to aid the freedom fighters. He has also carved out strong positions on other issues, such as demanding that federal environmental regulations undergo cost-benefit analysis before voting to elevate the Environmental Protection Agency to cabinet status.
Republican contender George Sweet is the kind of citizen-candidate we would like see more of in Congress. If elected, he says, he would bring a fresh perspective to Washington. In a year when there was less at stake for the area, we might well have considered him. At a time like this, however, Hampton Roads needs someone as well-placed as Rep. Norman Sisisky to look after its interests.
The U.S. Senate race in Virginia has gotten most of the attention this election year, but it is not the only election on the ballot. Voters will be choosing U.S. representatives in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th congressional districts. We endorse only in those contests where we believe there is a genuine contest, a decision we base on news reports, conversations with party leaders and our own reporting. Therefore, we are not endorsing in the 3rd District, which includes parts of Norfolk, Portsmouth and Suffolk and looks solid for incumbent Democratic Rep. Bobby Scott.
2nd District (Virginia Beach; parts of Norfolk): Democratic incumbent Owen Pickett has held the district since the retirement of Republican Rep. G. William Whitehurst in 1986. He is not a high-profile member of Congress, but in his eight years in Washington, he has carved out a moderately conservative record for himself.
He voted against the pork-laden Clinton economic stimulus package last year and he voted against the tax-raising 1994-95 budget. On the House Armed Services Committee, he has been a reliable vote to support the military bases and installations that are absolutely vital to the economic survival of Hampton Roads as well as the security of the country as a whole. He voted not to slash funding for the Strategic Defense Initiative, a program that is likely to become even more important as the threat of nuclear proliferation in the Third World increases.
Pickett's Republican challenger Jim Chapman is a credible, thoughtful candidate who would undoubtedly acquit himself well if elected. However, with so much at stake in the base-closing and realignment process next year, especially with Oceana Naval Air Station at risk, Hampton Roads needs all the clout and seniority it can get on the Armed Services Committee. For that reason, we endorse Rep. Owen Pickett for another term.
4th District (Chesapeake, parts of Portsmouth, Suffolk and Virginia Beach): Democratic incumbent Rep. Norman Sisisky joined Pickett and 20 other Democrats in voting against the ill-fated economic stimulus package in March 1993. He voted in favor of the tax-increasing budget that came later, which disappointed us.
Still, he has compiled a generally creditable record over the years, especially on defense-related issues. He helped gain for Newport News Shipbuilding the latest nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. During the struggle to free Nicaragua, he was a solid vote to aid the freedom fighters. He has also carved out strong positions on other issues, such as demanding that federal environmental regulations undergo cost-benefit analysis before voting to elevate the Environmental Protection Agency to Cabinet status.
Republican contender George Sweet is the kind of citizen-candidate we would like to see more of in Congress. If elected, he says, he would bring a fresh perspective to Washington. In a year when there was less at stake for the area, we might well have considered him. At a time like this, however, Hampton Roads needs someone as well-placed as Rep. Norman Sisisky to look after its interests.
KEYWORDS: HOUSE OF DELEGATES RACE 2ND DISTRICT 4TH
DISTRICT ENDORSEMENT by CNB