Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-01-04
Two More Seek
Senate Seat Of
Retiring Norris
Bluke 7. Newton Files
With w. D. Williams
In Virginia Race
By AIex Z. PRESTON

In Virginia Kuce
By Alex Z. Preston
A lively race for the State Sen.
ate seat of Robert o. Norris Of
Lancaster County was taking
shape today with the entry Of
two more candidates In the race.
Blake T. Newton Of West
moreland County. president u
the State Board of Education. 10
the latest to seek the Office from
which Senator Norris is retiring.
Barely an hour before Mr.. New.
ton announced. William d. WI
lians, former Mayor Of Colonial
Beach, entered the contest with
the blessing Of Senator Norris.
dean Of the upper branch Of the
Legislature,
Last week John Galleher, Ma
nassas lawyer and publisher, was
the first to announce his candi-
dacy. He did so just before Sen.
ator Norris declared his inten-
ton to retire.
District Changed.
Mr.. Gallaher lives In Prince
William County, an area previ-
ously represented by State Sem
ator John A. K. Donovan Of Fair
far. Prince William was thrown
into Senator Norris district. eff
fectiye this year. through . re-
districting act of 1862.
Through q Quirk In the law.
Mr.. Donovan now has the dis
tinction Of being the only State
legislator to represent two sena-
torial districts.
The 1852 act carved Alexan-
dria out Of his former district
then known as the 29th--and
left him with only Fairfax and
Falls Church in the new 2eth.
Alexandria now Is designated
the seth district and Delegate
Armistead L. Boothe, q leader Of
the @Young Turks" element. al.
ready has announced his inten.
ton to run for this seat.
Until then, however, Mr.. Don.
ovan will continue to represent
the area on the principle that
such officers remain in ofiice
until their successors are duly
elected and qualify.
Would Represent Both.
In the event of a special ses-
sioin of the General Assembly to
deal with the public school prob-
lem before next falls election.
however, Mr.. Donovan techni-
cally would be the Senator from
the 28th and 36th districts.
Prince William, too, presurn-
ably would remain in his area.
despite the fact the senatorial
redistricting law specifically
states it takes effect as Of Janu-
airy /. 1866.
The City Of Portsmouth like
wise was made q separate sena-
torial district, but its Senator.
Major M. Hil1ard. resigned to
become court clerk. Portsmouth's
status In the event Of a special
session prior to an election. was
not clear.
The redistricting act saw rural
areas lose two seats to urban
centers.
Senator Norris announced
Saturday that. after serving al.
most continuously in the Gen-
eral Assembly since 1912, he
would not seek another term.
Former schools Head.
Mr.. Newton is IS and Is for
mer superintendent Of schools
| of Westmoreland and Richmond
Counties.
Another potential candidate
Is Stanley A. Owens, common.
wealth's attorney Of Prince VIII
liam County.
Mr.. Newton ran for elective
Office once before, in 1850, when
he campaisned for Congress In
| the old LIST district. but lost Id
| q three-way special election.
Over the State as a whole.
1t was assured that-through
death, retirements and the 1861
redistricting--at least six new
| faces will be among the 40
members Of the next Senate.
Richmond city Senate pros
poets were left uncertain last
week by the death Of Senator
Frank s. Richeson.
Yesterday in Richmond ex-
Mayor e. e. Haddock and Dele
gates j. Randolph Tucker. ir.,
and L. w. Moscoe Huntley- con-
sidered possible candidates
were non committal on whether
they would enter the race.
The goth includes all Of what
formerly was the 18th district
king George. Richmond.
Westmoreland. Northumberland
and Lancaster counties plus
Prince william and Stafford,
which were tackled onto the old
Northern Neck district.
In the Princess ne-Acco-
mack Northampton district. Sem
ator v. A. Etheridge has am
nounced he won't seek re-elec-
ton, but will run for treasurer
Of Princess Anne.
ISfl nm Naoro Vofers