THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, November 1, 1995 TAG: 9511010466
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MAC DANIEL, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
It's deja vu in the race to unseat Del. William K. Barlow in the 64th House District.
His Republican opponent, Debra E. Quesinberry, is the same person he faced in 1993, and the issues are relatively unchanged in this sprawling rural district that covers six counties, the city of Franklin and part of Newport News.
The real difference this year, however, is tone. While 1993 was a quiet campaign, this year's race is embroiled in partisan rhetoric and accusations.
Quesinberry has spent much of the campaign attacking Barlow as being anything but a conservative Democrat, hoping that the district's rural and conservative bent will help her unseat the two-term incumbent.
Barlow, a Smithfield attorney who ran for office in 1991 after redistricting, stands by his record.
He supported welfare reform and the abolishment of parole while fighting against Gov. George Allen's budget cuts. At the same time, his campaign officials have said they are frustrated by inaccurate attacks from Quesinberry's camp.
It's a familiar refrain. In 1993, Quesinberry accused Barlow of voting for a bill when he was not even a member of the House of Delegates.
Barlow's camp has said Quesinberry's attacks have been so inaccurate that Barlow is pledging to sponsor legislation to create an independent panel to review future campaign advertising.
``When a citizen goes to his mailbox and he pulls out a flier from either me or my opponent, that citizen should be able to rely on that as being a fact,'' Barlow said. ``At the very minimum, it's a gross distortion.
Quesinberry countered that ``the more Barlow has remained in office, the more liberal he has become.''
She has made crime one of her top issues. Quesinberry, wife of an 18-year veteran on the Henrico County Police Department and mother of a cadet in the state police academy, said Barlow is soft on crime in this largely rural district where, in most areas, crime is relatively low.
Quesinberry, a pharmacist and a chair of the Varina, Va., Republican Party, came into the political picture in 1993 when she first ran against Barlow. She has held no political office but has worked on several campaigns.
``I'm not attacking Bill Barlow personally, and I will take every opportunity to explore his record,'' Quesinberry said. ``This is a Republican-leaning district. And when you look at Bill Barlow, what his record shows is that he is out of touch with the people of this district.''
Quesinberry lost to Barlow in a close race in 1993, garnering about 47 percent of the vote.
At last count, she had raised more money than Barlow. In 1993, Barlow out-spent Quesinberry.
KEYWORDS: HOUSE OF DELEGATES RACE CANDIDATE 64TH HOUSE DISTRICT by CNB