GOP Leader Says He Will Retire

Chichester's Departure Could Benefit Anti-Tax Forces

RICHMOND, March 12 -- Virginia Senate President John H. Chichester, a moderate Republican who forged close working relationships with successive Democratic governors, announced Monday that he is retiring after a 29-year career as a senator.

As chairman of the budget-writing Senate Finance Committee, the soft-spoken Chichester was one of the most powerful people in state government and is widely credited with helping to boost the state's financial health in recent years.

Chichester's decision to step down occurs at a critical time in Virginia and could have impact beyond 2007, an election year. His departure could strengthen the standing of conservative, anti-tax legislators in the General Assembly with whom Chichester often clashed in recent years.

With all 140 House and Senate seats up for reelection this fall, Chichester, of Northumberland, is the second moderate senator to announce in the past month that they will not seek another four-year term. Conservative Republicans, long frustrated by Chichester's willingness to work with Democrats and support some statewide tax increases, are hoping to replace him and Sen. Russell H. Potts (R-Winchester), who is also stepping down, with one of their own.

If Democrats don't gain the four seats they need to win control, a more conservative Senate could join with the Republican-controlled House of Delegates to thwart much of the agenda of Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) while pushing to tighten restrictions on abortion and illegal immigration.

"The departure of both John Chichester and Russ Potts means there will be different personalities," said Sen. James K. "Jay" O'Brien Jr. (R-Fairfax), a conservative who was largely shunned by Chichester. "Because of the more liberal direction those two men have, the Senate by necessity or default will be more conservative. How much more remains to be seen."

Since becoming Senate president in 2000, Chichester led a group of moderate Republicans who essentially set the chamber's agenda and brokered deals with the Democrats.

Known as the Gang of 5, the group worked with former governor Mark R. Warner (D) and Kaine to fight for higher taxes and fees they said were needed to address budget shortfalls or increased funding for transportation.

The group fractured this year over a Republican-backed transportation deal. Chichester opposed the plan, saying it didn't do enough to address Virginia's backlog of transportation needs and threatened to take money away from other government services. His longtime allies who made up the group -- William C. Wampler Jr. (Bristol), Walter A. Stosch (Henrico), Kenneth W. Stolle (Virginia Beach) and Thomas K. Norment Jr. (James City) -- voted for it.

In a statement Monday, Chichester said that "it's time to pass the baton on to another."

He continued: "Senate Republicans and Democrats have labored side by side to keep Virginia's fiscal house in order and to maintain the triple A bond rating only a few states enjoy. We have worked as a true team on many important and lasting issues."

Chichester, who turns 70 in August, said he plans to spend more time with his wife, Karen, who is recovering from a stroke she had five years ago.