DATE: Thursday, September 4, 1997           TAG: 9709040459
SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B4   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY TERRI WILLIAMS, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH                        LENGTH:   45 lines

CLEMONS QUITS, THROWS HIS SUPPORT TO JOANNOU

Vice Mayor Johnny M. Clemons announced on Wednesday that he is withdrawing from the 79th District House of Delegates race and pledging his support to Democratic candidate Johnny S. Joannou.

Clemons said during a press conference at Portsmouth City Hall that his campaign took a poll and found that he did not have the numbers to win in November. Clemons, who was running as an Independent, had also conferred with a number of Democratic state legislators who advised him not to run. The poll showed that Joannou had 39 percent of the votes to Clemons' 11 percent, Clemons said.

``It would have only served to help the Republican candidate,'' Clemons said of his candidacy, ``and, for that reason, I'm withdrawing my name and putting my support toward Johnny S. Joannou.''

Businessman Dan Evans is the Republican candidate for the House seat, which had been held by William S. ``Billy'' Moore, who was made a judge on the Portsmouth Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court.

Joannou, who stood at Clemons' side during the conference, said he was pleased to have the vice mayor's support.

``This means we have a unified Democratic Party in November and you can anticipate a victory from the courthouse to the statehouse,'' said Joannou, a former state senator.

At one point, Clemons had considered running as a Democrat for the seat that represents a majority of Portsmouth and some parts of Suffolk and Chesapeake. Robert C. Barclay IV, chairman of the Portsmouth Democratic Committee, said he also thought about running. Barclay said Wednesday that he is happy that the party now is united.

``There was no question there was infighting and jockeying for the nomination,'' said Barclay. ``But that's all behind us now. It was very magnanimous of Johnny (Clemons) to support Joannou. We will have a victory in November.''

Evans said he was disappointed that Clemons didn't support him. But he said Clemons' withdrawal won't change the race. ILLUSTRATION: Portsmouth Vice Mayor Johnny M. Clemons, left, has

withdrawn from the 79th District House of Delegates race and will

back Democrat Johnny S. Joannou, right. The GOP candidate is Dan

Evans.

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