THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, May 9, 1995 TAG: 9505090246
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ALEX MARSHALL, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 127 lines
Usually, the Norfolk Republican Party has to scratch for candidates, but this year it actually has a surplus.
The reason? Republicans are convinced they are riding a rising tide that will win them control of the General Assembly this year, and might even win them a few seats in Norfolk, despite its record as a solidly Democratic city.
In two of the city's five House districts, and in the race for clerk of the Circuit Court, Republicans are vying to win their party's nomination. The party will choose nominees at a mass meeting at Granby High School on May 20.
It's an unusual event in this city, where until recent years the GOP was feeble in strength and numbers.
A more competitive Republican Party has been emerging and parallels the rise of the party within the state. Although the Norfolk Republicans hold no legislative seats, party members do hold the offices of sheriff and commonwealth's attorney.
Norfolk isn't the only city with intramural party competition. In Virginia Beach, two Republicans are competing in a primary race for the privilege of running against Sen. Clarence A. Holland, D-7th District.
In Norfolk, Ewin A. Ottinger, James W. Sherrill Jr. and George R. ``Bud'' West are competing to run against Del. Thomas W. Moss, now speaker of the House. With his extensive seniority, Moss, who holds the 88th District seat, is expected to be a tough opponent.
Ottinger, who unsuccessfully ran in 1992 for the Republican nomination for Congress, is president of George G. Lee Co. Inc., a plumbing supply company in Norfolk. Ottinger has a long history of civic service, including chairman of the Industrial Development Authority and vice chairman of the Planning Commission.
``I think I have a proven record of civic leadership,'' Ottinger said. ``That is the best predictor for future success in public service. Serving in the House of Delegates is a position of political leadership.''
As House speaker, Moss has a lot of influence in preventing or pushing legislation that could harm or help Norfolk.
But Ottinger, 56, said he expects the Republicans to take control of the legislature. That would mean much of the political power Moss holds would be lost, Ottinger said.
Sherrill owns Old Dominion Inn and ran unsuccessfully for City Council against Paul Fraim, who afterward was elected Mayor.
West, 38, says he is a newcomer to both party politics and running for office. He said he is running because he believes Moss has not been effective.
``There could have been a whole lot more done during Tom Moss's tenure to develop Norfolk and the Tidewater area,'' West said.
West works as a curriculum developer for GPS Technologies Inc. and was in the Navy for 16 years. He also works as a minister of education and music at Brentwood Baptist Church in Norfolk.
Mary Albertson Grigg and George Schaefer, both party activists, are each seeking the nomination to run against Del. George H. Heilig Jr. in the 86th District.
Grigg, past chairman of the Norfolk Republican Party, describes herself as a political consultant and a real-estate agent. She has been active in the Republican Party and various political campaigns for many years.
``I think George has been there long enough,'' Grigg said. ``It's time for a change. I think a woman's touch would be nice.''
As a resident of Willoughby who was raised in Larchmont, Grigg said she is familiar with all parts of the district.
If Schaefer, now chairman of the Norfolk Republican Party, wins the nomination, he would be trying for the second time to beat Heilig. Schaefer ran unsuccessfully for House of Delegates against Heilig in 1991. Schaefer works in public affairs for Sheriff Robert J. McCabe.
In the race for clerk of the Circuit Court, Albert Teich Jr. and Ted Baker are competing for the Republican nomination. Both hope to compete against Randy Wright, who is unopposed for the Democratic nomination.
The present clerk, William T. Ryan, bowed out of the race after being challenged by Wright.
Teich, 66, announced his race Friday outside City Hall. Teich said he was the professional choice as compared to Wright, whom Teich labeled the political choice. Unlike Wright, Teich said he would not use the office as a platform to engage in city politics in general.
``It's bad enough that the judges in Virginia are not chosen on merit, but because of political persuasion,'' Teich said, echoing a familiar criticism by Republicans of the judicial selection process, which is controlled by the Democratic majority in Richmond.
Wright, who has been very visible on City Council, has said he would raise the profile of what has been in contemporary times a low-key office. Wright has said he would model himself more on earlier clerks who were actively involved in city politics.
``The clerk's office must not be used as a bully pulpit'' to speak out on general civic affairs, Teich said, who lampooned Wright's claim that he would learn at the job. Wright acknowledges having little experience in the court system.
``That is like someone who wants to be a surgeon, but has never been to medical school,'' said Teich, who has practiced law for several decades.
Teich was a professor of law for 35 years at Old Dominion University and practices law in his own office in downtown Norfolk.
Teich wears the honor of being the only Republican ever elected to the House of Delegates from Norfolk. He served from 1972 to 1974. He is former president of the Norfolk Jaycees, former campaign chairman for the March of Dimes and was named Outstanding Young Man in Norfolk in 1962 and Outstanding Young Man in Virginia in 1963. He is also former chairman of the Norfolk Republican party.
In Virginia Beach, two candidates are seeking the party's nomination to run in the 7th Senate District against Sen. Clarence Holland. They are Walter W. ```Wally'' Erb and Ed Schrock.
Shrock, retired from the Navy and from a stock brokerage, announced his campaign a few weeks ago.
Erb, a system engineer with Unisys, announced his campaign Sunday at Mount Trashmore.
``Our city keeps changing,'' said Erb in a prepared speech. ``It's not a quiet little farming community, and it's no longer a suburb of Norfolk.''
While Virginia Beach has benefited from the change economically, it also has more problems than in the past, Erb said. In particular, crime has worsened, Erb said.
Erb said he would work to return lottery money to the city of Virginia Beach, which would allow the city to put more police on the street.
Erb also advocated eliminating the tax on most businesses gross receipts, usually known at the BPOL tax. Erb said that the tax penalizes businesses and that ultimately ``we are taxing away jobs.''
City councils in the area strongly opposed eliminating the tax, saying they would have to raise property taxes dramatically to make up for lost revenue.
Erb has been active in local affairs for years. He is a director in the Virginia Beach's Council of Civic Organizations.
KEYWORDS: HOUSE OF DELEGATES RACE PRIMARY CIRCUIT COURT CLERK 88TH
DISTRICT 86TH DISTRICT 7TH SENATE DISTRICT ELECTION by CNB