THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 12, 1996 TAG: 9605100218
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Jennifer O'Donnell, Elizabeth Thiel and Eric Feber
LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines
Dwight M. Parker owes his victorious run for the City Council to a vigorous campaign. And also to a little bit of superstition.
``It rained today, and it rained last November on election day,'' said Parker at his victory speech Tuesday night at Cara's Restaurant in Great Bridge. ``I won both times. But when I ran in '94 it didn't rain, and I lost by 40 votes.
``Getting wet is my lucky charm,'' he said. Not much to say
Sherry M. Simmons, a former City Council member, was one of those lined up at the counter in the city clerk's office Tuesday night awaiting the election results.
Behind her, Thomas L. Mercer Sr., the usually talkative pastor of Hickory United Methodist Church who was making his first run for a position on the School Board, paced back and forth in nervous silence.
``This is the first time I've ever seen Tom at a loss for words,'' she declared. Precious space
Rain pelted voters as they trudged to and from the Fentress Fire Station, one of the city's 36 polling places.
The station's parking lot, which consisted of a graveled area and a muddy field, was choked with cars. Cars lined up to snag the few parking spaces, particularly coveted spots close to the station door.
The backlog, the mud and the bad weather evidently got on the nerves of one voter.
He stopped to bark at three campaign workers, standing under umbrellas and handing out literature about their candidates. Evidently, the workers' cars were among those taking up precious parking space near the entrance to the fire station.
It's not fair, he told them. They should leave.
The rain continued to pour. Cars continued to queue up to find room in the inadequate lot.
And the campaign workers continued their task. Companies help girls
When it came to offering a helping hand and encouragement to young girls, two Chesapeake businesses - Armada/Hoffler Construction Co. and Paul Arpin Van Lines moving company - were there.
The two firms opened their doors for the recent ``Take Your Daughter to Work Day'' and help with the Girl Scouts' brand new facility, A Place for Girls, which recently opened on Cedar Road.
Girl Scout Cadette Jennifer Perry of Deep Creek and Christina Holcomb of Virginia Beach and the daughter of employee Denise Haramia, were given a grand tour of Paul Arpin Van Lines' facility.
Paul Aprin Van Lines is a national moving and storage facility. The two girls were given a taste of the company's busy daily operations by Chesapeake facility general manager Don Queeney.
On the other side of town, Armada/Hoffler Construction Co. opened its doors to Senior Girl Scout LaKeisha Lankford, who spent the day with Kris Kelly, Armada/Hoffler director of marketing.
But the help given by the two companies didn't end there. According to Ann Lester, media and marketing specialist with the Girl Scout Council of Colonial Coast, Armada/Hoffler donated its construction services and Paul Arpin Van Lines moved the Scout offices. by CNB