THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, October 28, 1996 TAG: 9610280078
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SERIES: DECISION 96
As Virginians look forward to the Nov. 5 election, they're thinking a
lot about the qualities they want in their leaders. Virginians attach
roughly equal importance to the candidates' stands on the issues and
the candidates' leadership qualities and characters. We posed
questions about leadership to the candidates for Congress. We'll run
one a day up to Election Day.
LENGTH: 84 lines
Next month we will elect a leader to serve as the president of the United States and leaders to serve Virginia in the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives. Are some leadership qualities more important to success in the Senate and House of Representatives than to success in the White House? If so, what are they?
SENATE
John W. Warner (R)
The two positions are very different. But the ability to bring the diverse interests of all members of Congress together, and negotiate a workable consensus - an ability mastered by successful legislators - is one which is invaluable to being a successful president.
Mark R. Warner (D)
The Senate requires coalition builders more than the presidency. The president doesn't always need the legislature to make policy. He can sign executive orders, for example. A senator, on the other hand, can't be effective without his or her colleagues. I'm worried that the Senate is becoming much too partisan and gridlocked. With some of the best members on both sides of the aisle - like Paul Simon and Nancy Kassebaum - retiring, the Senate may continue to become even more polarized.
2ND DISTRICT
Owen B. Pickett (D)
The person elected to represent an area has a responsibility to represent the collective views of those people. In my case, I did my very best to get around the district and form a judgment about how people feel about the issues. I try to reflect that view when I vote in the House. The president has a much broader environment in which he's working, but he has essentially the same responsibility.
John F. Tate (R)
The qualities that make a great leader are the same whether the position is the school board, city council or the presidency. A great leader at any level must be committed to principle and responsive to the will of the people. For example, a good leader representing our district would never vote to cut veteran's benefits, against a balanced budget, or against requiring a two-thirds majority to raise taxes.
3RD DISTRICT
Elsie Goodwyn Holland (R)
No. There is not a difference in what's important. In each, people need integrity.
Robert C.``Bobby'' Scott (D)
A member of Congress can focus on single issues and advocate positions that may be novel and almost experimental. Members of Congress also can focus on issues that affect a single congressional district, rather than the nation as a whole, as presidents must do. Presidents also have to have much more of a consensus supporting their ideas rather than experiment with ideas that may or may not ever pass. When a president proposes something, it ought to be something that can be enacted into law. When congressmen propose things, they may be new ideas. They may be experimental and they may or may not ever pass, but they would represent an ideal.
4TH DISTRICT
Norman Sisisky (D)
I think leadership ability and the ability to earn and keep someone's trust is the same for any office.
Anthony Zevgolis (R)
I think leadership is a quality. It's not all gifted; it can be learned. The same qualities you need in the White House, you need in Congress. The president has to work with Congress, and with members of his administration and his constituents. And representatives to Congress are under the same obligation. I know people say the president has the bully pulpit and needs to set an example, but I think senators and representatives have the same obligation. They have to set an example for the American people.
KEYWORDS: SENATE RACE VIRGINIA 1996 CONGRESSIOAL RACE VIRGINIA
1996 CANDIDATES by CNB