THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 9, 1996 TAG: 9605090380
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MAC DANIEL, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines
Chesapeake's Democrats spent the campaign calling for an end to City Council divisiveness, going so far as to refuse to call themselves Democrats or engage directly in any negative campaigning.
Republicans, on the other hand, used their party name repeatedly and directly attacked incumbent Mayor William E. Ward in an election that the city charter says is supposed to be nonpartisan.
But the 35 percent of Chesapeake's eligible voters who went to the polls gave neither side an edge. Tuesday's vote evenly split the council along party lines, leaving four Republicans, four Democrats and one independent.
And within 24 hours after the polls closed, there was a difference of opinion as to whether Chesapeake residents can expect to see a kinder, gentler council.
``Maybe folks were saying that by balancing the council, things will get done,'' said Republican Councilman John M. de Triquet. ``Well, that remains to be seen.''
A different opinion came from those who hesitated to call themselves Democrats.
``Certainly we'll see a more diverse, more cordial, more respective council,'' said Ward. ``I think we'll have less divisiveness with a group that has common interests. I hope we'll put partisan politics aside and work toward the common goals.''
Democratic Councilman John W. Butt said ``everybody likes to talk Democratic and Republican. But I think that when you're elected to City Council, politics should be over with.''
Republicans say the ``perceived divisiveness'' is democracy at work; the ugly but necessary side of political sausage-making.
``The perceived divisiveness can be viewed as having one of two causes - the divisiveness of personalities and the divisiveness of principles,'' said de Triquet.
``But if divisiveness is based on principle, that is the healthy productive dialogue which I think must continue on council. And I hope folks see the difference.''
Republicans say that, in many ways, the Democrats' campaign against divisiveness was in itself divisive.
The Democrats, Republicans said, indirectly targeted Vice Mayor Robert T. Nance Jr. - the lone GOP incumbent - throughout the campaign.
At the Democrats' election night party Tuesday, that anti-Nance sentiment was clear as Nance's name was booed whenever his election results were broadcast.
A last-minute anti-Nance ad was paid for by someone named Cornelius A. Quidley and not by any member of Ward's ticket.
There is no telephone listing for Quidley in the region, but a Cornelius A. Quidley does own real estate in the River Walk development. He could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
``I know nothing about Mr. Quidley,'' said Ward, ``but I sure would like to meet him someday.''
Nance lost with under 10,000 votes. In a field of eight council candidates, Nance finished sixth. Only 34 percent of the voters picked him among their three choices for the council.
When the new members of council are sworn-in at the beginning of July, council will be made up of four Republicans - de Triquet, W. Joe Newman, Peter P. Duda Jr. and Dalton S. Edge. There will be four Democrats or ticket mates: Ward, Butt, Dwight M. Parker and Elizabeth P. Thornton; and the lone independent, Alan P. Krasnoff.
It will be a far cry from the council's current configuration of five Republicans, three Democrats and Krasnoff.
Both sides campaigned on similar platforms. They emphasized growth control, holding down taxes and improving Chesapeake as a place to live.
``There was very little difference between the two sides on the issues,'' said de Triquet. ``The only difference were the attacks.
The Republicans attacked Ward as being pro-development in an election year where citizens called for growth controls. Ward's ticket went after divisiveness but did not identify who or what was responsible.
With no clear party in power, the council may find it more difficult to get things done, de Triquet said.
``I think whenever there is a majority that is coherent in so far as certain principles, then progress is made in a more linear fashion - in a quicker and straighter line,'' he said.
``When there is a distinct balance, I think we're going to have a couple steps forward and two steps backward.''
KEYWORDS: ELECTION CHESAPEAKE RESULTS ANALYSIS by CNB