THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 2, 1995 TAG: 9510310071
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY MARC DAVIS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
THE QUESTION STUNNED all the candidates for court clerk - except one.
It came from the audience at the Bayview Civic League: ``What do you know about being a probate judge?''
Three candidates fudged. Randy Wright said he knew it was part of the clerk's job, but nothing more. The audience hooted. Malcolm Gaines said anyone who reads the state code can figure it out. Ben Rogerson admitted he had no idea.
Then Albert Teich Jr., a 66-year-old lawyer, recited chapter and verse on the clerk's probate responsibilities.
``I have been an informal adviser to the deputy clerks up there (in probate) from time to time,'' Teich said.
The answer got big applause.
Everywhere he goes on the campaign trail, Teich emphasizes his 38 years of experience in Norfolk's courts and the corresponding lack of experience of his opponents, especially Wright.
In fact, Teich says, there are only two issues in the race.
One is experience.
``I have worked in that court for many years. I have searched thousands of titles. I have handled hundreds of criminal cases. I am accustomed to the probate. That's where you need to know the law more than anywhere else,'' Teich says.
The other issue, Teich says, is keeping partisan politics out of the clerk's office.
``We don't want a political boss in the courts,'' Teich says.
Although Teich is a Republican candidate, and although he served two years in the state House of Delegates from 1972 to 1974 as a Republican, he says party politics ends at the courthouse door.
He attacks his chief opponent, Wright, for his political ambitiousness and lack of courthouse experience.
Teich says he entered the race to stop Wright.
``I don't want Randy Wright to be clerk of the Circuit Court. He's not qualified,'' Teich says. ``Randy Wright is an issue because he wants to be a political boss. He wants a higher-paying job so he can go on to do other things. . . . He wants this job to use it as a springboard to something else.''
In his campaign literature, Teich writes, ``A vote for Randy Wright is for a politician who wants a big fat pay raise.''
Teich says he has no similar ambitions. If elected, he says, he will close his downtown law practice and become a full-time clerk.
Teich says his experience will serve him well in such complex areas as investing trust funds, which is part of the clerk's job. The clerk currently invests about $4 million in trust estates.
Teich emphasizes his years as president of the Old Dominion University Credit Union, building the fund from nothing to $3 million. Teich taught at ODU for 35 years and is former chairman of the Faculty Senate.
Perhaps most important, Teich says, is his love of the law and Norfolk Circuit Court.
``I like the practice of law. I'm proud of being a lawyer. I like the way that court is being run,'' Teich says. ``I like those judges. I like that court. I like the atmosphere of the clerk's office. . . .
``I get very, very emotional about it. I love my court . . . love going over there.''
If elected, Teich says, he will not be active in the community.
``I am not going to go out and espouse anything of a public issue. If it deals with the court, if it deals with the clerk's office, yes,'' but nothing more, Teich says.
``The main function of the clerk is to make sure the court functions properly for the benefit of all people. . . . If I want to be politically active, I should do something else.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by LAWRENCE JACKSON/The Virginian-Pilot
KEYWORDS: CANDIDATE ELECTION COURT CLERK NORFOLK by CNB