THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 8, 1995 TAG: 9501080078
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium: 100 lines
Walter B. Jones Jr. had officially been a member of Congress for less than five minutes, but his staff had already been at war for more than 24 hours.
Their opponent?
Boxes.
``We couldn't get moved in here until yesterday,'' Glen Downs, the new Republican congressman's administrative assistant, said Wednesday. ``The workers were in here until then. We came in here, and there was stuff all over the floor. The staff worked until late last night to get ready for today.''
Jones' new digs in the Cannon House Office Building are a far cry from the opulent quarters occupied by his father, the late Walter B. Jones Sr., who was one of the ranking Democrats in Congress.
But Downs, a former aide to Sen. Lauch Faircloth, was upbeat about his new workplace.
``For a freshman congressman, this is really a great office,'' he said. ``They assign offices based on seniority, and the freshmen get what's left. This is nice. Sonny Bono (the entertainer-turned-congressman from California) is up in the attic. His office is really small.''
But even with Bono in his attic, all was right with the world for Jones and the multitudes who came from North Carolina's 3rd District to help him settle in.
``We had a group in here from Goldsboro this morning,'' the 51-year-old Farmville businessman said. He stood outside the door of his office, greeting some with hearty handshakes, others with embraces. But for the surroundings, it looked like another stop on the campaign trail. ``It's really gratifying for these people to come down and be part of this. These people made our election possible.''
Jones said a ride with a cabdriver brought home to him the importance of his new job.
``The cab driver was from Afghanistan, but he had come to this country, and become a citizen. His family had fought against the Soviets in Afghanistan. He started telling me what a great country this was, and how great it is to be free. He gave me a government lesson right there in the cab.''
Jones grew up learning about the government from one of the most respected members of Congress, his father. The elder Jones served on the Hill for 26 years.
Returning as a congressman himself, Jones said, ``is an overwhelming experience. When you're 51 years old, and both your mother and father are deceased, you think about them. They taught me the things that are important.
``They showed me how to be responsible, and taught me the lessons of the Bible, and how to treat people.''
A notebook on a desk near the front door of Jones' office was filled with names and addresses of visitors.
Gary Sawyer, an insurance broker from Dances Bay, N.C., took a day off to accompany his wife and daughter to Washington, as part of as group that left Camden, N.C., before dawn to witness the historic day. ``We wanted to see Washington,'' Sawyer said. ``I voted for Jones and everything.''
Asked his impression of the Capitol at the end of Pennsylvania Avenue, Sawyer replied ``Awesome. As my daughter says, awesome.''
The challenge facing Jones and other Republicans who control Congress is awesome, too.
The new Republican majority has promised to pass and send to President Clinton in the first 100 days a variety of bills that will reduce the size of government and federal spending.
Closer to home, the Base Realignment and Closure Commission will consider the closure of a number of military installations. Prior to the election, former Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Sam Nunn, D- Ga., said no bases, including installations in North Carolina and Virginia, would be exempt from scrutiny. Jones, along with Virginia Reps. Norman Sisisky and Herbert H. Bateman will serve on the newly named National Security Committee.
``We won't be concerned so much with the war in Bosnia, as we will the defense policy and it's impact on the constituents in the Third District,'' said Downs.
Jones will also serve on the Natural Resources Committee. The Endangered Species Act will be up for renewal in 1995, as well as the federal government's new five-year plan for offshore oil and gas exploration. Environmental groups fear the Republicans will radically change the country's environmental policy. Jones, whose father sponsored the Outer Banks Protection Act, said he opposes drilling off the North Carolina coast.
The new North Carolina congressman went to work quickly, within hours of taking office.
``One of the things I learned from my father is that you have to serve your constituents,'' Jones said. ``That's going to be my priority.''
While family history was much on Jones' mind Wednesday, the historical significance was cited by Colin Sholar, a retired oil executive from Waterlily.
``We think it's a historic day that will serve as a reference point in our history,'' Sholar said. ``It's not as significant as FDR's first inauguration, but it signifies a change in the fundamental policy of this nation. I think the message of the '94 election was the same as when the Democrats won in 1992. The people wanted change.''
Then Sholar threw in a word of caution: ``Don't change too fast.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photos
Walter B. Jones Jr., left, a newly elected Republican congress-man
from North Carolina's 3rd District, follows in the footsteps of his
father, the late Walter B. Jones Sr., right.
by CNB