
DATE: Wednesday, November 5, 1997           TAG: 9711050471

SECTION: FRONT                   PAGE: A3C  EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY KATRICE FRANKLIN AND LOUIS HANSEN, STAFF WRITERS 

DATELINE: SUFFOLK                           LENGTH:   63 lines

EXPERIENCE NETS JONES CHANCE TO FULFILL PROMISES

For almost one-third of his 39 years, S. Chris Jones has been making weighty decisions on the fates of residents in a city roughly the area of Rhode Island.

Decisions like how many new homes could dot their streets, how many new police officers would help protect them and how many new schools would educate their children.

On Tuesday night, voters - confident with Jones' experience and eager for him to make good on his campaign promises - handed him an office higher than his Suffolk City Council seat. With a majority of precincts reporting, Republican Jones had a solid lead over Democrat Michelle Degnan, a Chesapeake high-school French teacher, to win the General Assembly's 76th District seat. The district includes most of Suffolk and parts of Chesapeake and Isle of Wight County.

Jones raised almost 10 times more money than Degnan, who made her first run for political office.

Jones says he will fight for localities to get more state funding to better educate their children, press to continue attracting high-tech companies and toughen penalities on criminals.

Normally clad in white tennis shoes, Jones sported loafers for his victory party at Riddick's Folly museum in downtown Suffolk.

``I look forward to representing the district,'' Jones said. ``I feel honored to have won this seat.''

Former Gov. Mills E. Godwin Jr., Jones' longtime supporter and mentor, attended the party. Fifty years ago, Godwin began his state political career by winning a Suffolk seat.

Jones, a pharmacist who captured the Richmond seat on his first try, says he will also fight for managed growth - a hot campaign topic.

``People expect an orderly pattern of growth'' Jones said. ``They want adequate facilities in place at the same time housing developments are built.''

Supporters said they were pleased with the job Jones has done on the City Council and with his long-term service to the community.

``I know him better,'' said Lyn Stewart, who cast her ballot for Jones at John F. Kennedy Middle School in Suffolk. ``I know what he's done for the city.''

Suffolk City Council members will appoint Jones' replacement to represent the Chuckatuck borough for the remainder of his term, which expires in May. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

Jones

Graphics

JONES 67%

DEGNAN 33%

JONES' PRIORITIES:

Education: Wants to reduce class sizes from kindergarten through

fifth grade and increase state funding for local schools.

Economic development: Favors proposals to ease tax burdens on

businesses

Crime: Wants to eliminate rehabilitation programs for criminals KEYWORDS: ELECTION VIRGINIA RESULTS HOUSE OF

DELEGATES RACE VIRGINIA