Notebook by Bob Gibson
The Daily Progress
Sunday, December 15, 1996
A primer on those eyeing Way's seat

When Gov. George F. Allen looks back to Albemarle County to see who wants to take his old House of Delegates seat, he might be surprised by the size of the crowd.

One lone Democrat and plethora of pachyderms-five Republicans remain after a sixth took himself out of the field last week -are eyeing the race.

The Democrat is Bruce Kirtley, an Ivy store owner who last year challenged Delegate Peter Way. Kirtley, 42, lost to Way but received 45 percent of the vote.

Way, 60, is the Scottsville Republican who captured Allen's seat in 1991 and is giving it up voluntarily next year.

The GOP field is fluid enough to change about every other week, as five Albemarle Republicans are discussing possible candidacies.

Forrest Marshall Out

The sixth county Republican who removed his name from consideration last week was Supervisor Forrest Marshall.

"I don't think it's good timing for me," the Scottsville District supervisor said nine weeks after undergoing surgery for a coronary artery blockage. "It's just too soon."

"I'd like to do it, but I just don't think it's a good idea," Marshall said. "I just think it would be too stressful for me to start right now."

Marshall also took a poll earlier this month, which might have played a part in his decision.

The poll measured his strength head­to­head against fellow Republican Ed Robb, the former Charlottesville­area state senator actively seeking the GOP nod to succeed Way in the House of Delegates.

Ask Marshall how his poll showed him doing in a hypothetical race against Robb, and he responds, "It was neck and neck." He didn't want to discuss which neck was slightly closer to the finish line.

Robb, who turns 59 two days before Christmas, is not shy when asked about the race.

"I'm planning on it," he said Friday. "I have already made a decision. I'm planning to do it. I'm just not planning to announce for a while, not until sometime in January." ~

Several Republicans who back Robb and several who do not agreed that the former state senator brings the most formidable name into the contest and would be tough for any Republican to beat for the nomination, especially in a primary.

Depends on Robb

Four other Republicans are eyeing the field, but two said Friday that they definitely would not run if Robb formally enters the race.

Those who said they would not challenge Robb are Paul Wright, 36, an investment broker and financial columnist, and Michael Brown, 27, a real­estate agent who challenged Delegate Mitchell Van Yahres, D­Charlottesville, in 1993 before moving into Way's 58th House District.

Wright graduated last weekend from what he jokingly calls "the Emily Couric School of Government" at the University of Virginia-the Virginia Institute of Political Leadership that state Sen. Couric attended before beating Robb by 2,270 votes in 1995.

"I fully expect Ed to run," said Wright, who has volunteered for Robb's campaign but would certainly like to be considered" if Robb were to opt out.

"I won't run against Ed Robb," said Brown, who once worked for Robb.

Brown will cast one of Virginia's last 13 votes for 1996 GOP presidential candidate Bob Dole on Monday in Richmond in the Electoral College.

Two potential GOP candidates who are not publicly tying their decisions to what Robb does are Albemarle Supervisor David Bowerman and Paul C. Harris. Harris, 32, is a black Char: lottesville lawyer considered a rising star in state GOP politics by a number of prominent Republicans who would like to see a conservative black GOP candidate. Bowerman, 52, sounded less like a candidate Friday than he had in early October but would not rule himself out. I've got all my options," said Bowerman. I'll probably do something in January," he said. "I've got to decide whether to run for delegate, and then I've got to decide whether to run for the board." Bowerman is a two­term county supervisor whose seat comes up again next year.

Bowerman said he was planning last month to open a new Fitness Gallery store on the west side of Richmond but has abandoned those plans. In doing so, he said he may have the time again to get back into politics more actively in January.

Harris said Friday that he is enthusiastic and is gaining support for his candidacy for the Republican nomination.

The momentum has continued to build," Harris said.

Asked if he would enter a nomination race against Robb, Harris sounded likely to run.

"Competition is healthy for the process," Harris added.

Several Republicans said Harris probably would be the most conservative GOP hopeful in the field if he runs for Way's seat. Asked if he prefers a June 10 GOP primary or a convention process, Harris replied, ~I think we ought to do what's best for the party, not what's best for any individual candidate."

Robb has gone on record as favoring a primary.

Ed Burton of Earlysville, one of the major GOP fund­raisers high on Harris, is likely to head the 58th District party panel that will consider whether to hold a convention primary.

Burton, a political confidant of Allen, was named last week as the state finance chairman of the rginia Republican Party.

Burton, a former investment banker who teaches at UVA's commerce school, also is a trustee of the Virginia Retirement System.

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