THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 10, 1996 TAG: 9605090201
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 09 EDITION: FINAL
SERIES: Election '96
SOURCE: BY PHIL WALZER, MARY REID BARROW AND BILL REED, STAFF WRITERS
LENGTH: Long : 187 lines
Only 12 candidates were declared winners in Tuesday's Beach elections, but the process was quite an adventure for a field of candidates crowded with novice politicians.
Many who officially came away as losers said their campaigns afforded them an exciting education and another persepective on the electoral system. Some even vowed to run again in two years.
Most surprising of all was the rapport that developed among many of the political warriors battling for School Board seats. A few even declared new friendships had been forged along with promises to continue meeting and making a difference.
Robert C. Mandigo Jr., a federal auditor who ran for a four-year, at-large seat, was among those who lost yet emerged satisfied with the process Tuesday.
``I have a lot of respect for the candidates who ran. Whoever wins is going to represent the city well,'' he said. ``I feel that most of the candidates were well-qualified, and they reflected a diverse group of the population. . .
``Once we started campaigning together, we spoke with each other. I was pretty comfortable with most of the candidates. I never witnessed anything that was nasty, derogatory, demeaning.''
A.F. ``Mike'' Mitchell Jr., who also ran for a four-year, at-large seat, shared Mandigo's upbeat assessment of the candidates. ``There was absolutely a significant number of qualified people,'' Mitchell said. ``Everyone who was running was doing it out of commitment to the community and service.''
He added, ``I think the city wins from the sheer numbers of people that showed their commitment to run because it provided the voters an absolute plethora of choices to make.''
Steven M. Emmanuel, an assistant professor of philosophy at Virginia Wesleyan College who ran for a four-year, at-large seat, said, ``I'm still glad I was part of it. I got a chance to exercise my democratic right to run for public office, to take a position on some issues that were important. I learned a lot about local government, the school board, school board politics.''
Like Mandigo, Emmanuel was impressed with the civil tone of the debates. ``Part of it was there were some pretty decent people in the pool. Part of it can be attributed to the fact that there was a reluctance by some to take a firm position on anything. Don't be controversial.''
He said he was disappointed that the top vote-getters tended to be the heaviest spenders. But he was heartened that many candidates, like himself, didn't spend much money and refused to post signs.
``They stuck pretty much to the issues; they wanted to be known for the positions they took on these issues. I'm proud to say I'm one of those candidates. There are many people who took the same road; I think that's the high road.
``I hope people will see that as something positive, and they will learn something from that - that we can raise the level of political discussion in our city. It doesn't have to be dumbed down; it doesn't have to be driven by politics and money.''
For Mitchell, some lessons were less encouraging: ``The two most important aspects of the whole thing were: You have to have the financial backing, and you have to get out and talk to all the various groups. Whereas many of the voters read parts of the newspapers, I don't necessarily think they all understood the issues nor recognized all the attributes of each candidate.''
James A. Grace, candidate for the two-year, at-large School Board seat, said he enjoyed seeing politics in action but was disappointed in turnout at the forums.
``Overall it's been fun. I had a good time with it,'' he said, ``and the kids have had fun.
``I met some interesting folks. Whatever it looks like, it will be a pretty good school board.''
Grace said he probably won't run again because he was a ``serious candidate but not a serious politician.''
``So much money went into signs,'' he said. ``And people saw so many signs they stopped seeing them.''
Donald R. Bradway, candidate for a four-year, at-large seat, said he joined the race because he saw a need for school board candidates and stepped into help. He really enjoyed the experience and found it educational.
``But the best thing about it was a lot of good people got involved,'' he added. ``What I really hope happens is that we can tap the group of people that did get involved and use them creatively.''
He, for one, hopes to stay involved with the city - maybe on a board or commission - but probably not as a politician.
In a campaign like this, he said, word of mouth is the most significant asset someone can have. Signs and advertisements reinforce that.
Claude ``Okie'' Thompson, who sought a two-year, at-large seat, said that despite his loss he was not disappointed by anything, except, ``it could have been a warmer day!''
``I was so pleased with a lot of my friends and their support,'' he said.
A real challenge in a campaign with this many candidates was getting the message out, he said.
He wouldn't mind running again, he said, because ``the first time out is a big learning experience. The hardest thing to do is ask for money.''
Michael B. Moore, another two-year, at-large candidate, said politics was in his blood ``a little bit.'' Even though he said he ran a good campaign, he added that he learned so much that he would do a lot of things differently next time.
Being the candidate instead of the voter gave him a different perspective. ``In the future I'll look at things differently - more kindly,'' he said.
What impressed him most was the relationship that the two-year candidates developed with one another. ``It's been very close,'' he said, ``and we plan to stay in touch.''
Sandra ``Sandy'' C. Bowie, who finished fourth out of 22 candidates seeking four-year, at-large seats, was excited that she was among the top vote-getters. She said it was due to a lot of hard work on her part and that of her friends.
``It's humbling in many ways,'' she said. ``This is when you realize how much people care.''
She said she has considered serving on the School Board for several years, even back when the board was appointed. Win or lose, she will run again, she vowed.
Bowie said she learned more about herself after being forced to present her views so succinctly such as in the 90 seconds candidates were given at one forum.
``It really got me in touch with what my thoughts were,'' she said. ``It's unbelievable to find what you're made of.''
Several of the council contestants also found themselves engaged in unfamiliar battles to get elected.
Mayoral candidate R.F. ``Bob'' Yurina sat in his ninth-floor election headquarters suite in the the Surfside Inn/Econo Lodge Tuesday night seemingly unpreturbed by the unfolding events of his first bid for public office. It was painfully evident at the early hour of 8 p.m., when returns were just trickling in, that Yurina was about to be steamrolled.
Even so, he said, he is willing to try again, if the opportunity arises.
``If there's another unopposed spot in the future, I'd step in the race again,'' he said. ``Maybe not for mayor, but some other spot. I hope I don't wind up with the Bill Clinton syndrome. Nobody admits voting for him.''
Next time, Yurina promises, he will prepare early for a council race.
``Money is a big part of it,'' he said. ``But you need an organization early on in the campaign - five or six hard-core campaign workers who'll stick with you to the end.''
At the family-owned Windjammer hotel seven blocks north of Yurina's gathering, Rick Anoia looked wistfully Tuesday night at tally sheets rolled out on the hall floor outside his campaign war room.
``It is 8:30 p.m. and only seven precincts have been marked in with numbers,'' he intoned. ``It looks like Harold (Heischober) is beating us 3-to-1 so far.''
Despite the fact that many resort hotel and motel operators backed Heischober, Anoia promised to be back in the next City Council race. ``Of course,'' he mused. ``everything changes in a year or two.''
This was a ``positioning'' race, he said. It was to get his name in front of the public and to let other city politicians know that he'll be back. Next time, with more money, more early preparation and more campaign workers, he vowed.
He decided to challenge Heischober, he said, because of Heischober's age.
``I decided to go after it after the second meeting with him (Heischober),'' Anoia said. ``He offered me a School Board position, then he said he enjoyed being on council because he didn't have to do anything. That's what did it.''
A few blocks away, Heischober and about 40 well-wishers remained at his victory headquarters at the Upper Deck, an Oceanfront night spot, where at 8:45 p.m. Vice Mayor Will Sessoms was announcing the status of the four-way race for the at-large council seat, which Heischober occupies.
``With 19 precincts in, Heischober 6,672 votes; Rick Anoia 2,807; Pace, 1,390; and Spadaccini, 1,824,'' Sessoms yelled to a chorus of cheers. ``But we'll have to wait for more returns before we declare victory.''
On the floor below the stage, Heischober, who was nursing a glass of water looked up at the tally board and smiled. ``It's looking good,'' he said.
A well-wisher stopped, shook hands and said, ``It looks like you'll be in politics as long as you want to.''
Heischober smiled again. ``I enjoy myself,'' he said. ``And we have a good team, so we just need to keep going forward.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by D. KEVIN ELLIOTT
Neil Rose and his wife, Gina, get an updated tally on Tuesday's
election returns. Rose, a tax attorney and political newcomer, won a
four-year term on the School Board for an at-large seat.
Staff photo by STEVE EARLEY
Rosemary Wilson, with support from her husband, Tom, anxiously
watches voting results on television. Wilson, a former teacher, won
a four-year term on the School Board for an at-large seat.
Donald Bennis looks over positive returns with his daughter,
Courtney, and his wife, Pam, at the Virginia Beach circuit court
clerk's office. Bennis, an attorney, won a two-year term for an
at-large seat on the School Board. He narrowly defeated Gail Ball in
the night's closest race.
Staff photo by CHARLIE MEADS
KEYWORDS: ELECTION VIRGINIA BEACH RESULTS RETURNS by CNB