THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 16, 1995 TAG: 9504160048
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TONI WHITT, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines
A group of Republicans gathered in support of Daniel R. Evans, a business owner, who declared his intent to run against Billy Moore, a 12-year incumbent in the House of Delegates.
Evans announced his candidacy as a Republican for the 79th District seat Saturday. Republican Sen. Fred Quayle and Republican Dels. Robert Nelms and J. Randy Forbes attended Evans' announcement. Evans, 39, has worked with the Republican Party since 1976.
Evans said he decided to run against Moore because ``he is out of touch with the people of the 79th District.''
The district is comprised of parts of Portsmouth, Chesapeake and Suffolk.
``He represents the special interest and votes accordingly no matter how it affects his constituents,'' Evans said.
Evans said if he wins the election he will work to bring economic development to Portsmouth and find ways to help slow growth in Chesapeake.
Evans said in Chesapeake he would amend the laws to allow the City Council to ask developers for certain proffers, including money for schools, roads, water and sewers.
``Portsmouth has the opposite problem; it needs to bring business, especially to the downtown,'' Evans said.
``With my business background I can make that happen,'' he added.
Evans, who is president of Evans Inc., an appliance parts wholesale business, said he also wants to ``get local government off the back of small business.''
He said that if he were elected he believes the Republicans would have a majority in Richmond, ``then we'd implement the governor's programs.''
He said he would work on education issues, implementing a specific program outlining standards of learning for schools statewide.
``There's been a drop-off in the education system,'' Evans said.
``We can't have that if we're going to compete globally.''
Evans said he admires European education programs that test students in the sixth grade to measure their interest and abilities. From there he said the schools can put the students on track for academics or trade school.
Evans owns the 40-year-old Portsmouth-based business with his sister and brother. They have 51 employees and offices in Richmond, Norfolk and Newport News. He graduated from Churchland High School and lives in Western Branch with his wife and three children. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Evans
KEYWORDS: HOUSE OF DELEGATES RACE VIRGINIA CANDIDATES by CNB