THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 19, 1995 TAG: 9505180234
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANCIE LATOUR, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
An electrified crowd of Republicans came out from Little League practices and domestic chores to nominate Vista Cotten for Chesapeake clerk of Circuit Court in a mass meeting Saturday.
Cotten and her party opponent, Larry Willis, drew record-breaking numbers to a packed Indian River High School auditorium, where 513 residents cast ballots in the most significant Republican challenge to Democratic Circuit Court Clerk Lillie M. Hart in a decade.
``All I can say is this,'' Cotten said to a cheering crowd after winning the nomination by 33 votes. ``Ms. Hart better get a good pair of Reeboks.''
In thanking her supporters, Cotten pledged to conduct a campaign that ``will be based on the highest principles of the Republican Party'' and avoid negative campaigning.
Cotten characterized the Circuit Court under Hart as an inefficient department that failed to serve the city well.
``Chesapeake can't take another four years of managerial incapability in this office,'' Cotten said in her nomination speech.
Among the problems that plague the court system, Cotten said, is outdated technology for records that is ``reminiscent of a 19th century operation.''
``This is a court where morale is extremely low among clerks,'' Cotten continued, ``where there is no sense of accomplishment among workers, as the workload continues to increase while the number of people stays the same, where there are no incentives for those who have gone above and beyond the call of duty.''
Cotten received support from state Sen. Frederick M. Quayle and Del. J. Randy Forbes, Vice Mayor Robert T. Nance Jr., and Council members Dalton S. Edge and W. Joe Newman.
Though some criticized Cotten's past as a Democrat, City Treasurer Barbara O. Carraway reminded the audience that Republicans would need a broad base of support and recognition to beat Hart.
Forbes described Cotten as a pillar in Chesapeake.
``Vista Cotten doesn't just know what's been happening in Chesapeake in the past four years. She knows what's been happening here in the past four decades.''
A North Carolina native, Cotten moved to Norfolk County as an infant and graduated from Great Bridge High School in 1964.
Cotten made her first major civic mark with the Chesapeake Chamber of Commerce, where she was the first woman president.
In 1973, she founded Cotten-Young Insurance Agency with business partner William L. Young.
Saturday's meeting was one of the largest local Republican gatherings in recent memory.
``At one time, there were so few of us, we could all fit in a telephone booth,'' said Goldia Faye Latham, who served on the credentials committee and helped tally the votes. ``Now, many of the people are Republicans, and we've never had that before.''
City Councilman John M. de Triquet said Republicans have reached a critical mass in the city.
``I've always thought that Hart's tenure was too long,'' de Triquet said. ``We need new ideas, new people, new priorities. And now, I think enough people are activated within our party to make that happen.''
KEYWORDS: CIRCUIT COURT CLERK by CNB