THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, December 9, 1995 TAG: 9512090305
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY WARREN FISKE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: HERNDON LENGTH: Medium: 93 lines
The Democrats' tenuous grip on control of the state Senate slipped by another finger Friday when Democratic Sen. Virgil H. Goode of Rocky Mount told colleagues they cannot count on his support.
Goode privately told a few senior senators that he will not commit to supporting the party when the Senate convenes Jan. 10 to fill leadership positions, according to two Democrats who asked not to be identified.
The 40-member Senate split evenly between Democrats and Republicans in last month's elections. If Goode defects, Republicans get a first-ever majority. If he stands with his party, Democrats retain power by virtue of Lt. Gov. Donald S. Beyer Jr.'s tie-breaking vote.
So, everybody wants to make Goode happy.
Republicans have been aggressively courting Goode, a 22-year Senate veteran who shares their conservative views on spending, gun control and abortion.
But several GOP senators said Goode, while welcoming their overtures, won't commit to them either.
The behind-the-scenes wooing of Goode marked a two-day Senate conference on the state budget at a Herndon hotel. Thursday he met privately with a key Republican. Friday, a Democrat took him aside.
Senators said both parties are considering luring Goode with a leadership position on the all-powerful Senate Finance Committee, which oversees state spending and taxing.
Goode sought to deflect attention last month by saying he would remain a Democrat. Two senators said he explained Friday that he will continue to call himself a Democrat even if his actions put Republicans in power.
``A few days ago, I thought everything had fallen into place,'' said one senior Democrat. ``Now I'm not sure we can count on him.''
Several Democrats said they don't know whether Goode is simply angling for a stronger position in the Senate or if he is truly disgruntled with the party. There are reasons to believe both, they said.
The Democrats said Goode has made clear that he covets an appointment to the Senate's conference committee on the state budget. This powerful four-person panel meets with conferees from the House of Delegates each year to negotiate the final details on state spending.
The three Senate Democrats slated to serve on the panel this year have more seniority than Goode.
But senators said Goode also has expressed dissatisfaction with the Democratic leadership. They said he has voiced disappointment that he garnered little support from his colleagues in an unsuccessful race last year for the Democrat's U.S. Senate nomination against incumbent Charles S. Robb.
Goode raised eyebrows earlier this week when he failed to attend an important Democratic caucus at the state Capitol, even though he was in Richmond. Goode has said that he was feeling ill.
But several senators said Goode was reluctant to support either of the Democratic candidates vying at the caucus for Senate majority leader: Richard L. Saslaw of Fairfax who won, and Joseph V. Gartlan Jr., also of Fairfax. They said Goode has complained that both Saslaw and Gartlan criticized his candidacy against Robb.
Goode also broke with local party leaders in Rocky Mount this fall when he refused to back Claude Whitehead, the Democratic nominee for the House of Delegates.
But the senator has been no less of an enigma for Republicans. He reportedly declined overtures from Republicans in his home district to accept their nomination for the Senate earlier this year and ran unopposed as a Democrat.
Senate Republicans are scheduled to meet Tuesday to elect their leader. A Republican senator said privately that Goode has indicated he is not thrilled with their two candidates: Joseph B. Benedetti of Richmond and Thomas K. Norment Jr. of Williamsburg.
The senator said Goode has named other Republicans he would find ``acceptable'' for the post. But he added that the GOP is not willing to let Goode name their majority leader.
A Republican Party source said the GOP is discussing offering Goode the powerful chairmanship of the finance committee if he will support the party or excuse himself from his seat Jan. 10 when the Senate meets to organize.
The proposal is being strenuously opposed by Sen. John H. Chichester, R-Fredericksburg, who is in line to become finance chairman should the GOP seize power. Goode said recently that he has not been offered the post.
Democrats, hoping to insulate themselves from Goode, are trying to recruit an incumbent Republican - Sen. Jane Woods of Fairfax. Woods has complained that she feels out of step with Gov. George F. Allen and the conservative leadership of the Republican Party. Like Goode, however, she has been noncommittal about her intentions.
Goode was reluctant to discuss his situation. ``I'll just say that you won't find me attending the Republican caucus on Tuesday,'' he said. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
State Sen. Virgil Goode
KEYWORDS: VIRGINIA STATE SENATE by CNB