Recount Over, Democrat Takes Seat in Va. House

Alexandria lawyer Charniele Herring was sworn in to the Virginia House of Delegates yesterday, nearly two weeks after she narrowly won a special election for the seat and just minutes after a recount confirmed her 16-vote victory.

Her Republican opponent, legislative aide Joe Murray, congratulated the new delegate and said he would no longer contest the results, ending a politically charged dust-up that had become an almost daily sideshow in Richmond.

Alexandria Democrats, chagrined at having allowed a Republican within striking distance in the heavily Democratic 46th House District, were relieved by yesterday's results but frustrated over Herring's lost time in Richmond. The political lesson from the episode was clear enough, said Alexandria Democratic Party Chairman Susan Kellom: "Never ignore the absentee ballots." Murray won the absentees 181 to 48.

Republican officials said they mailed about 3,500 absentee ballot applications to potential voters in the contest, which had a minuscule Election Day turnout. Fewer than 2,700 of the 48,000 registered voters in the district cast ballots in the rushed special election, which was called after Brian Moran announced that he was stepping down from the seat to run full time for governor.

The House had voted on more than 500 bills and had completed more than a quarter of the 45-day legislative session by the time Herring's constituents finally got their representative yesterday.

Throughout the delay, she sat in the back of the House chamber each day but was not allowed to vote. There were no instances in which she would have cast the decisive vote on a major statewide issue, and the most significant impact of her absence was her inability to file legislation.

The deadline to file bills was Friday. Now any member seeking to submit legislation needs the support of the entire chamber. Herring said that while her election was being contested, she asked a fellow Democrat to introduce a bill for her on aid to needy families. She has not decided whether to introduce others.

"I just am concerned about my district and the delay. That's my concern," Herring said. "I'm ready to work. I was here on the 14th ready to work, and I still feel that way."

Shortly before 2 p.m. yesterday, Herring was escorted to the front of the House chamber by three delegates, including the man who had fought for more than a week not to seat her, House Majority Leader H. Morgan Griffith (R-Salem). The two Democratic delegates hugged her, and Griffith smiled and offered congratulations.

Del. C. Todd Gilbert (R-Shenandoah) suggested that she might want to wait for her family to be in the audience before she was sworn in.

"No, no," delegates murmured.

"I would like it, but it's too late now," Herring said.