University of Virginia Library

Dalton Supports Anti-Busing,
Present Energy Crisis Hike

By CHRIS KOHAN

Although declining to state
a formal campaign platform,
Lieutenant Governor candidate
State Sen. John N. Dalton
(R-Radford) yesterday said he
would support an anti-busing
Constitutional amendment and
would strive to "keep the
energy people in business" in
the face of the present energy
crisis.

Speaking to a sparse
gathering of Young
Republicans in the Law School
Lounge, Mr. Dalton said he
favors: the "neighborhood
school concept" of children
attending the school in their
vicinity. "There's no reason for
either black or white children
to be bused far from their
homes."

Anti-Busing

As well as being the patron
of several anti-busing
resolutions, Mr. Dalton said "I
would support a Constitutional
amendment against busing."

When asked about his
position concerning strip
mining, Mr. Dalton, chairman
of a study on strip mining of
coal land, was given a
hypothetical choice between
strip mining or preserving
beautiful land. He said "If we
put our energy people out of
business, we're hiking the
question."

Declines Comment

He declined comment about
the present Green Springs strip
mining controversy, saying he
plans to sponsor another
commission which "would
study resources other than
coal."

As a member of the Senate
Courts of Justice Committee,
he views "the relief of the
Supreme Court's workload as a
major issue to be considered
before the General Assembly in
the next few years."

CD/Arthur Laurent

State Sen. John A. Dalton

In evaluating his Republican
competition, J. Harry Michael
and Robert Morgan, Mr.
Dalton said, "I can't see much
difference between them and
me-–I'd be proud to support
either man."

"The major difference
between us is the greater
legislative experience I've had–
nobody in Virginia has been
elected as much as I have."
This is his sixth election in nine
years.

Mr. Dalton was first elected
to the House of Delegates in
1965 and served there until
elected to the State Senate in
1972.

'Better Vote Getter'

"The big issue in deciding
on a nominee is who has the
experience in state government
and who's proved to be the
better vote getter."

With respect to the
Republican nomination for
Governor, Mr. Dalton said "I
think former Democratic
governor Mills E. Godwin will
be the next GOP nominee."

Attorney General

He also commented on the
as yet unannounced candidates
for Attorney General. "There
will be a candidate–I know of
one who has indicated he
would like to be nominated."

Mr. Dalton received his A.B.
Degree from the College of
William and Mary in 1953 and
his Law Degree from the
University in 1957.