DATE: Thursday, October 23, 1997            TAG: 9710230032

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B10  EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Editorial 

                                            LENGTH:   87 lines

PILOT ENDORSEMENTS CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICES

The Virginia Constitution establishes five local offices that must be filled by election: commonwealth's attorney, sheriff, clerk of the court, commissioner of the revenue and city treasurer.

These constitutional offices are a holdover from the days of political patronage when election to these positions was a license to fill paying departmental jobs with uncles, sons and political cronies.

Fortunately, most of the blatant political patronage has disappeared. So should the constitutional requirement that these be elected offices.

The sole exception should be the commonwealth's attorney. A strong argument can be made for electing the chief prosecutor. Voters ought to have a direct voice in how crimes are prosecuted in their cities and counties. But we see no reason for the other four offices to continue to be filled by election.

Partisan politics has no place in the office of the clerk of the court, the commissioner of the revenue, the city treasurer or the sheriff. Presumably, a well-run Republican city treasurer's office would look no different from a well-run Democratic city treasurer's office. Furthermore, the skills needed to run for office aren't necessarily the same skills needed to run offices like treasurer and commissioner of the revenue that increasingly require professional expertise.

Nevertheless, these vestiges of the bad old days of Virginia politics linger on. Until the Virginia Constitution is amended, they will remain. Citizens must vote to fill the seats, and we therefore endorse the following candidates.

Norfolk commissioner of the revenue: Democrat Sharon McDonald would be a breath of fresh air at City Hall. She would bring energy, savvy and an outsider's perspective to the job of commissioner of the revenue.

Veteran Commissioner Sam T. Barfield, retiring at age 80, has run his office honorably and well. Nettled by criticism implicit in McDonald's campaign, Democrat Barfield has commended to voters Republican Charles Gibson, his longtime and recently retired deputy.

But McDonald would bring to the revenue office years of experience in the private sector - 18 years with financial institutions (11 as a commercial-loan officer) and several years as a professional mediator specializing in conflict resolution.

McDonald earned a master of business administration degree from Old Dominion University and pledges enhanced service to taxpayers through updated technology and extended hours. A small-business owner, she understands the need for government to streamline the way it deals with those who produce the revenue it gathers. She merits election.

Virginia Beach commissioner of the revenue: Republican Rickie L. Richards has worked in city government for 22 years, 11 of those as deputy commissioner of the revenue. His opponent, Philip J. Kellam, has worked in the commissioner's office for the past 14 years and could also ably serve as commissioner of the revenue.

The balance between these two candidates tips, however, in favor of Richards, who is a certified public accountant. Richards' plans to upgrade technology in the office and to eliminate duplication are commendable. He is presently charged with running the computer system for the city's finance department. He should be able to transfer those skills easily to the commissioner's office.

Virginia Beach treasurer: John T. Atkinson has served the city well as treasurer for the past 20 years and has earned re-election to another term.

By automating the office, opening convenient branch offices and streamlining procedures, Atkinson is able to boast one of the lowest delinquency rates in the state on personal property taxes. During his tenure, Atkinson has seen the number of bills he is charged with collecting rise from 800,000 a year to 2.4 million, yet the size of the treasurer's office remains small.

Portsmouth sheriff: Gary W. Waters has held this post for the past 16 years. During that time, he has performed well and has operated the jail competently.

In 1986, Waters, a Democrat, instituted an anti-drug program for fifth-graders in every public and private school in the city. Twenty-five thousand students have taken the course. He has an active inmate work program. He formed the first female inmate work crew in the state; the team washes and waxes city vehicles. He has a special program to protect the elderly living alone. His department just received a state award for inmates' work beautifying the city. His department provides a handsome honor guard for special occasions. He probably was close to right when he told one group of citizens during his campaign, ``I venture to say there isn't a person in Portsmouth who hasn't heard of me.'' Clearly, he believes in constituent service.

Suffolk sheriff: Raleigh Isaacs has managed smoothly the diminished sheriff's office (it no longer has responsibility for running the jail), and by doing so has earned a second term. It makes no sense to dispense with the services of incumbents who have performed well, and Isaacs has. He deserves to be continued in office.

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