DATE: Tuesday, June 3, 1997                 TAG: 9706030270

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY JON GLASS, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:   76 lines

PARTY BATTLE BREWS OVER HEILIG'S SEAT NORFOLK'S DEMOCRATIC LEADERS ALLOW 25 POLITICAL DELEGATES TO SELECT HIS REPLACEMENT.

A potential fault line to divide city Democrats was exposed Monday as the party's leadership voted to allow 25 political delegates to select a replacement for Norfolk Del. George H. Heilig Jr.

Among those 25 is one of the two candidates seeking the seat, Willoughby Spit real estate developer Donald L. Williams, anointed by Heilig as his successor.

The vote sets up an internal party skirmish between Williams and Joseph A. Leafe, a Larchmont lawyer and former Norfolk mayor and state delegate.

The 25 delegates will cast votes for the two candidates during a Saturday morning convention at Suburban Park Elementary School.

Heilig's sudden announcement last month that he was out of the running for the 86th Virginia House District after nearly 26 years in the seat has put the party in a tailspin.

His announcement, faxed on May 16 to party chairman William Nusbaum, surprised many, coming only days after a slate of 25 local Democratic delegates had nominated Heilig for re-election. Heilig cited his failing eyesight as the reason for his withdrawal.

The following week, the city Democratic Party's executive committee decided that the 25 delegates would select the Democrat who will run against Republican challenger Beverly Graeber.

That decision is at the center of the potential storm among the Democrats. In a 34-14 vote Monday evening, Norfolk's City Democratic Committee decided to uphold the executive committee's decision to allow the 25 delegates to select the party's nominee to replace Heilig.

Leafe argued unsuccessfully Monday to open up the process to allow any Democrat in the 86th House District to vote later this month at a ``mass meeting,'' or caucus.

``To me it's the absolute fair way to do it,'' Leafe said before the meeting.

By allowing a ``narrow selection'' by the 25 delegates, Leafe told the committee members, ``there's not going to be as much happiness because everyone hasn't had a chance to speak.''

Both Williams and his wife, as well as others who support his candidacy, are among the 25 delegates who were pledged to Heilig and will vote Saturday on his replacement.

``You have the candidate, his wife, you have people who have ties to him'' among the delegates, Leafe said. ``It raises some questions.''

Williams, however, said the delegates represent a cross-section of the 86th District, which encompasses neighborhoods in the northwest corner of the city, from west Ocean View and Willoughby to Titustown and Larchmont on the northwest side of Hampton Boulevard.

``If anybody has anything to worry about, I should be worried,'' Williams said. ``This is not a shoo-in for me.''

Williams added that Monday's overwhelming vote, which carried by 70 percent, should erase doubt about the process.

Some party members said the issue could inflame old rivalries between Democratic factions in the district's east and west sides.

``I think the Republicans benefit by this little fight,'' said Robert Hicks, a City Democratic Committee member. ``People say to me that this is just another ploy by the west-siders to keep an east-side person out.''

Others, however, said any differences would blow over by November's election.

``We're all Democrats,'' said Marilyn Doheny, Heilig's aide. ``It's like two brothers or sisters getting together - they fight and make up, and everything's fine.'' ILLUSTRATION: LIKELY CONTENDERS

Former Norfolk Mayor Joseph Leafe

Developer Don Williams

After nearly 26 years representing the 86th Virginia House District,

Democratic Del. George H. Heilig Jr. withdrew from the race May 16,

citing his failing eyesight. KEYWORDS: DELEGATE DEMOCRATS

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