Evening star., 1953-04-16
Virginia Set
For Nearly 40
Delegate Races
Mrs. Acton Files
Against Boothe
In Alexandra
By Alex R. Preston

Ballots for Virginia's July IA
Democratic primary took final
shape today with nearly 40 con-
tests set for seats in the House
of Delegates as the deadline
passed at midnight.
A race developed at the last
minute in Alexandria where Mrs.
Virginia L. Acton, member OF
the city Democratic Committee,
filed aaginst Delegate Armisteao
L. Boothe. She placed her petit
ton in the hands of Democratic
Chairman Thomas Moncure at
1925 pm. ...
Arlington County Republicans
will hold a primary, too. This
is because two members Of that
party, Richard L. Parli, archi-
tect, and Bennie L. Fletcher, jr.,
attorney, have filed for nomina-
ton to one seat open on the
County Board this year.
Arlington Democrats have
stayed out of the board race sc
far but may nominate a candi-
date by convention later.
State Wide Races Unchanged.
The Statewide contests re-
manned unchanged with the
passing Of the filing deadline.
These see State Senator
Charles R. Fenwick of Arlington
and former Representative
Thomas B. Stanley running fol
the Democratic nomination fol-
Governor.
Democratic 1t. Gov. A. E. S
Stephens of Smithfield is op-
posed by Delegate Charles N
Loving of Bath County fo1
Lieutenant Governor.
But Attorney General j. Lind
say Almond. jr., is unopposed for
denomination by the Democrats
Republicans may nominate
candidates for the higher Offices
at a State convention.
Lack of a third candidate for
any of the Statewide Offices
means that there will be no run
off primary this year.
Most of the House of Dele
gates races among Democrats
are in Eastern Virginia, but some
extend as far west as Pulaski,
the Associated Press reported.
Incumbents Oppose Each Other
And, as a result of redistrict-
ing law passed in December by
the General Assembly, incum-
bents are opposing each other in
two of the newly reshuff1ed
districts.
In Charlottesville, Henry B
Gordon and James r. Dulaney,
who formerly represented that
city along with Albemarle and
Greene Counties, now find them
selves in a district made up of
that city alone.
A similar case finds two men
loyal to the Byrd organization
running against each other in
the Northern Neck. They are
Delegates w. Tayloe Murphy of
Warsaw and Charles F. Unruh
of Westmoreland County.
A three-way race has devel-
oped in Loudoun County for the
seat of retiring Delegate Still
son H. Hall. Candidates there
are Lucas D. Phillips, Lee Ball
and Mrs. Thelma Smoot.
IA File in Richmond.
In Richmond, IA candidates
filed for that city's seven House
seats.
The situation in the area near
Washington remains unchanged
except for last-minute develop
ment in Alexandria, where a
contest previously had developed
for Commonwealth's attorney
between Howard w. Smith, jr.
incumbent, and Earl F. Wagner
Other Democratic House races
in the suburbs:
Arlington, three seats-J. May
nard Magruder. incumbent;
George P. Grove, Harrison Mann
Thomas Broyhill, Mrs: Lucy G
Bussey and Mrs. Kathryn Stone
Fairfax-Falls Church, two
seats-Guy M. Bayes, John
Webb, Richard Stands ano
Omer Hirst.
Former School Principal.
Mrs. Acton, 43, withdrew as a
candidate for reelection to the
Alexandria Democratic Commit
tee to enter the House race. She
is the widow of Richard c. Ac-
ton. She is a graduate of Will
son Teachers College and was a
teacher and principal in Airing
ton for four years. She was active
in PTA work.
She is a member of Grace
Episcopal Church, the Alexan-
dria Council of Churchwomen, q
director of the Red Cross, the
Order Of the Eastern Star and
formerly headed the Junior Red
Cross and was vice president OF
the Animal Welfare League.
Colgate S. Prentice, 29-year-
old legislative assistant to SEN
ator Smith, Republican, of New
Jersey, also filed as a G. o. p
candidate for the House in Alex
andria. Being the lone candi-
date. no Republican primary
there is necessary.
Mr.. Prentice lives with his wife
and two children at 1906 We'll
lington road. A native Of New
port News, Va, he moved to
Alexandria in 1851.
He is a World War II veteran.
He took his B. A. degree at
Swarthmore College and his M
A. at Woodrow Wilson School OF
international Affairs, Princeton
University.