University of Virginia Library

Vote Tomorrow

Without venturing any specific
endorsements, a few notes on tomorrow's
elections seem in order.

Locally, in a heated race in the 26th House
district, two Republican challengers—Joseph
W. Wright Jr. and Darden Towe—are pitted
against Democratic incumbents Daniel G. Van
Clief and Thomas J. Michie Jr. All four
candidates are from Charlottesville. While
partisan competition will inevitably play a
role in the outcome, observers have indicated
that ideological distinctions remain
all-important in many voters minds: Del. Van
Clief and Mr. Wright are self-acknowledged
conservatives, while Del. Michie, along with
Mr. Towe, consider themselves moderate to
liberal.

Vital for the moderates is a big win in the
city of Charlottesville, where favorable
margins from black voters and the University
community are necessary in order to offset
conservative strongholds in the neighboring
counties. Anyone who doubts the importance
of student and University-related balloting
should recall last year's special House race
between Mr. Wright and Del. Michie—an
election which Mr. Michie won by only a
single vote. This year's contest may be just as
close, although some say the real contest is
that between the two conservatives for the
top finishing position.

Running for a seat in the State Senate,
25th district, are Democratic incumbent J.
Harry Michael and his challenger,
Charlottesville Commonwealth's Attorney
John T. Camblos. Many will remember Mr.
Camblos as the prosecutor of the so-called
Charlottesville 68, a group of students and
local residents arrested during the course of
the student strike and anti-war protests here
in May, 1970. Mr. Camblos' chances for
election were seriously impaired in
mid campaign when his campaign coordinator
quit citing "ideological differences" as the
reason.

Statewide, voters will elect a lieutenant
governor to replace the late J. Sargent
Reynolds, who died last June. The undisputed
front runner in that race is State Senator
Henry Howell of Norfolk, a liberal
independent. At week's end Republican Del.
George Shafran—Governor Holton's
favorite—and Del. George Kostel, a
conservative Democrat, were vying for the
privilege of being Mr. Howell's main
challenger.

A main question is whether Sen. Howell
can hold intact that impressive coalition of
labor, blacks and George Wallace supporters
which nearly won him the 1969 Democratic
gubernatorial nomination. His refusal to join
Dels. Kostel and Shafran in hardline
anti-busing positions may be a key factor at
the polls.

So there you are. With a new lowered
voting age, for the first time in history
student balloting promises to leave its mark
on the outcome. This is your chance: vote
tomorrow.