THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, December 2, 1995 TAG: 9512020613
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DAVID M. POOLE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Short : 44 lines
House Speaker Thomas W. Moss Jr. of Norfolk and Majority Leader C. Richard Cranwell of Roanoke County won unanimous reappointment Friday to their respective posts for the 1996-97 General Assembly term.
In a jovial mood, and in an open-door meeting, House Democrats selected their leaders, marking the fact that they held onto power in November elections.
``It's good to be chairman of the majority party,'' said Alan A. Diamonstein of Newport News.
The House Democrats also re-elected House Clerk Bruce Jamerson to another two-year term.
Though Moss and Jamerson face a formal vote of the entire House of Delegates in January, the endorsement of the Democratic Caucus is tantamount to reappointment.
Moss, 67, has served in the House of Delegates since 1966 and rose to the speaker's podium in 1992. The position carries tremendous political power; the speaker doles out committee assignments and can doom a bill by banishing it to an hostile panel.
Moss said the Democrats were willing to work with Republicans if Gov. George F. Allen follows through on recent indications that he will ease off on his in-your-face politics.
``He can set the tone,'' Moss said.
Cranwell, 53, was elected to the House in 1971 and was named Democratic floor leader in 1991. Though his heart had been set on becoming speaker, Cranwell has put his wily nature and daring dealsmanship to good use as floor leader.
House Republicans met last month and reappointed Minority Leader S. Vance Wilkins Jr. of Amherst County.
Senate Republicans and Democrats are scheduled to select leaders in separate meeting next week.
KEYWORDS: VIRGINIA HOUSE OF DELEGATES LEADERSHIP by CNB