University of Virginia Library

Howell Grabs Early Lead
In Heavy Voter Turnout

By TIM WHEELER

Henry E. Howell Jr., Independent
candidate for lieutenant governor of
Virginia, took an early lead in last night's
race for that position.

As of 11 p.m. yesterday, with 1037 of
1,842 districts reporting, Mr. Howell led
his opponents with 234,668 votes or 41.
58 per cent of the total.

Democrat George J. Kostel was second, with
203,750 votes or 36.11 per cent, and
Republican George P. Shafran trailed with
125,750 or 22.31 per cent of the votes for
lieutenant governor.

In the 25th district race for the State
Senate, Democrat J. Harry Michael was leading
John T. Camblos, the Republican candidate, by
a tally of 5,837 to 2,492.

Early election returns for seats in the 26th
district of the House of Delegates saw
Democratic incumbents Thomas J. Michie, Jr.,
and Daniel G. Van Clief over Republicans
Joseph W. Wright, Jr., and Darden Towe.

Van Clief Leads

Mr. Van Clief had recorded 4,608 votes in
the early returns, followed by Mr. Michie with
4,334, Mr. Wright with 3,822, and Mr. Towe
with 3,202.

In local returns, with three precincts
reporting, Democrat George W. Bailey led over
Independent T. M. "Mac" Whitten in the race
for Albemarle County Sheriff, by a margin of
782 to 505.

Also on the local level, Charlottesville voters
chose Henry Howell over George Kostel and
George Shafran. Mr. Howell carried the local
polls with 3,703 to Mr. Kostel's 2,971 and Mr.
Shafran's 1,641.

Charles Hough, Republican candidate for
Albemarle County Commonwealth Attorney,
was winning in the early reports over Democrat
Downing Smith, with 750 votes to Mr. Smith's
459.

Predictions Exceeded

Voters exceeded predictions about election
day turnouts, causing observers to revise their
estimates of yesterday's voter turnout upwards
to approximately 900,000 in the state.

The only explanation poll watchers could
give the unexpectedly heavy balloting was that
the warm, sunny weather prevailing throughout
the state yesterday drew many more people to
the polls than had been forecasted.

Only one voting irregularity was reported
throughout the state yesterday, as people
flocked to the polls. In the Roanoke area,
voting machines intended for Roanoke County
and those for the City of Roanoke were
switched. The difficulty was repaired by the use
of paper ballots, after some delay.

The office lieutenant governor, with respect
to the powers and duties of the office, is
considered by political insiders to be more
ceremonial than substantive. However, the
election yesterday generated uncommon
interest because of the implications that the
race held for Virginia's gubernatorial race and
the Presidential race in 1972.

Mr. Howell, throughout his campaign, has
let it be known that he considers the lieutenant
governorship to be a stepping stone to the
governor's office in 1972.

The outcome was also considered by many
to be an indicator of President Nixon's chances
for winning Virginia in the 1972 Presidential
elections on the basis of his present policies.

The Special election for lieutenant governor
was added to the regular election for General
Assembly and local posts due to the death in
Mid-June of Democratic Lieutenant Governor
J. Sargent Reynolds, at the age of 33 from a
brain tumor.

In addition to the special election for
lieutenant governor, the 96 counties of Virginia
will elect their governing officials for four-year
terms and the entire state will choose 140 state
legislators for the General Assembly.

Although 140 members were elected to the
Assembly, 28 of the candidates ran without
opposition, with 17 in the House and 11 in the
Senate.

Republicans this year ran for more seats
than any previous election; but, when all the
results are completed, they are expected to
make a slight gain. Political observers gave
Republicans a chance of gaining perhaps six
seats in the House and possibly two in the
Senate.

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