RICHMOND
State Sen. Ken Stolle, R-Virginia Beach, a longtime power broker in the General Assembly, declared his candidacy for Beach sheriff Friday, potentially leaving a void in the legislature and creating a political domino effect.
An attorney and former Beach police officer, Stolle explained his decision as a desire to return to law enforcement after years in the halls of government.
"When I initially ran for office, it was on a strict law-and-order platform... and I find myself now fighting other battles," said Stolle, noting he has "accomplished everything that I had initially set out to accomplish" in 18 years in the legislature.
"I'm a police officer at heart," he added. "That's what I want to be in - law enforcement."
In an interview with The Virginian-Pilot, Stolle also disclosed that he has Parkinson's disease, a degenerative neurological disorder that can impair motor skills.
Stolle, 54, said the diagnosis was not a major factor in his decision to run for sheriff.
"What Parkinson's has done is it's made me re-evaluate my priorities, where I want to be in two years, five years, 10 years," said Stolle, who was diagnosed with the condition about three years ago and takes medication to manage it.
If elected, Stolle would succeed Sheriff Paul Lanteigne, a longtime friend, as the commander of 548 employees and the city jail. Lanteigne is not seeking re-election to the $156,000-a-year job.
Virginia Beach Police Capt. John L. Bell Jr., who said he was in the same 1976 rookie academy class as Stolle, has filed to run for sheriff as a Democrat.
Were Stolle to become sheriff, it could cause jockeying for the vacancy left in the state Senate.
Beach Republican officials mentioned state Del. Sal Iaquinto, R-Virginia Beach, Councilwoman Rosemary Wilson and former Councilman Linwood Branch as possible candidates in a special election for that seat.
A Democrat who might run in that circumstance is former state Sen. Moody E. "Sonny" Stallings Jr., whom Stolle defeated in the 1991 election.
One lawmaker who won't change titles if Stolle becomes sheriff is Del. Paula Miller, a spokeswoman for the Beach Sheriff's Office. Miller, a Norfolk Democrat, "will keep her job if she wants it," Stolle said.
Those who've worked and warred with Stolle over the years describe him as a tough-minded lawmaker who earned the respect of peers even when they disagreed on issues.
Senate Majority Leader Richard Saslaw, D-Fairfax County, called Stolle "a huge asset" in the General Assembly.
"Let me tell you, the institution is the loser when you've got somebody with that kind of intellectual firepower leaving," Saslaw said.
Gov. Timothy M. Kaine said Stolle is "an extraordinarily effective senator."
The sponsor of "hundreds of bills" over the years, Stolle said he is most proud of his role in the abolition of parole, amending the law to assist wrongly convicted individuals and authoring anti terrorism legislation.
Stolle has also been a persistent advocate for public safety, and his voice on that topic will be missed, said John W. Jones, executive director of the Virginia Sheriffs' Association.
His command of legal concepts combined with fierce negotiating skills made him a formidable foe in policy clashes, said Del. W.R. "Bill" Janis, R-Henrico County.
"If you're a member of the House of Delegates, the five scariest words in the English language are, 'Sen. Stolle opposes your bill,' " he said.
That style has been known to frustrate some colleagues, as it did late in this year's legislative session when Stolle walked into late-night budget negotiations to observe a discussion of public safety funding.
Playing the heavy was never a role he relished, Stolle said, just one he inhabited.
"It's not something that I ever really enjoyed," he said.
"It's something I knew I had to do, and it was a responsibility I wasn't going to retreat from."
Julian Walker, (804) 697-1564, julian.walker@pilotonline.com
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It's an elected position.
Do you blame the guy for wanting to better his pension? I hope he succeeds. Put you best canidate up againt him and lets see who wins. There is no need to get ugly about it....Do somthing to stop him instead of flapping your gums.
Retire Instead
Thank you for your years of service Senator Stolle. It is time to retire instead.
Sen. Stolle
I hope he wins. That way we will rid of him in the state senate. We don't need any more cops in the legislature. I say good riddance.
Jokes on the Left
since their never was such a thing as the vast right wing conspiracy. Hey, you know like the star chamber. Clintons couldn't find this star chamber so they invested the term vast rw conspiracy.
Some things in life do come
Some things in life do come around. Stolle was a bully as a cop and a bully in Richmond. The only reason he is leaving is that he is in the minority now and he wants his retirement based on 150,000 instead of 20,000. The down side is no more hunting trips. Stolle has always looked after one thing: Stolle! Many in Richmond will say good riddance and hit the road.
"Vast Right Wing Conspiracy (what a joke)"
Not so vast anymore (jokes on you).
Concerning "Mr. Fabulous"
As someone who could be considered a member of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy (what a joke), I will give careful consideration to his posts from now on, not necessarily agreeing but viewing with a new perspective.
If a man has held up to his committments I find it hard to fault him even if a salary move is a factor.
All about the Pension
This isn't about being sheriff. This is about Stolle getting a much higher pension after serving as Sheriff ($150K/yr) compared to serving as state senator ($30K). He'll be eligible for a pension after 3 more years of public service, so he's opting for the higher pension. All the while, when he's serving in a crucial law enforcement role, he'll be suffering from a progressive neurological disorder. The political powers-that-be are all lining up to make this happen. I agree that he has served well, but the answer to this medical problem is a better health care system, not the people of Virginia Beach paying for someone to do nothing for $150K a year (and then draw a hefty pension) while his second-in-command does all the work while he waits the 3 years until he can become sheriff. I wish him well and pray that his disease progresses slowly (or that a cure is found), but I don't want him convalescing at $150K a year on my dime.
One Word RETIREMENT!!!!!
Let's see - Stolle 11 yrs a VB policeman. 12-13 yrs Senator at 18k per year.
VB sheriff = 150k - top three yrs for retirement = 1 term as sheriff totaling 28-29 yrs of VRS retirement at top 3 yrs = 100k retirement after one term. Leaves and goes back to being a lawyer.
Not bad deal. If successful will make Norfolk/Portsmouth/Chesapeake politics look not so bad!!
Vote NO for Stolle for the safety of Virginia Beach.
Stolle probably could not pass the training required of incoming deputies. Vote NO for Stolle for the safety of Virginia Beach.
Replacement
I'm sure the local gop won't have too much trouble finding a replacement
for Sen. Stolle in Richmond. It seems their only criteria for a candidate is someone with a high school diploma.
why am i constantly surprised by poster ignorance?
Ken Stolle has served the commonwealth with honor and integrity. To belittle his accomplishments -and worse- ridicule his disease are deplorable. All who have blathered on should be ashamed. I wish him the best and will gladly cast my vote for him in November - and I'm a bleeding-heart liberal.
Will be missed
Sheriff Lanteigne will be missed! Maybe he can take Stolle's seat. And, yes, the Sheriff carries a weapon when in uniform. He can carry off duty and plain clothes as well, just like any other leo.
Gone!
I'm glad Stolle is gone. His representation in Richmond lacked honesty and integrity. His support of the unconstitutional road bill was just an example of his poor judgment. The only problem is that we will get another lackey in Richmond who will do nothing for the good of the Commonweath. The only allegiance our representatives demonstrate is to the party rather than the people.
vabeach757 & The Nye Seat
Chuck Smith will have to stand in line. There are some BIG names lining up for that seat.
Some Posters are Misinformed About Parkinson's
Some of the comments, even the one from the person who claims to work with the disabled, show a lack of knowledge of Parkinson tremors (shaking). The tremors/shaking occur when the muscles are at rest, not when they are consciously doing something, as in pointing a weapon. It is extremely rare for a Parkinson's patient to have action related shaking. Also Parkinson's is a VERY slow progressive disease, patients can be symptom free or close to it for many years, esp. with medication that slows its progress. There's even a surgery that looks extremely promising for advanced cases.
running against Nye
Chuck Smith will be running against Nye for 2010. So, I think we have that covered.
Why not Congress?
Darn. I was hoping Ken Stolle would run against Glenn Nye next year and take him out! Oh well, Glenn Nye rode in on B. Hussein Obama's coat tails, so it shouldn't be too hard to get him out next year.
the shakes
Not a good idea to give someone with Parkinson's a firearm.
evanj
You left out something important to the comment.
Does the sheriff carry a gun?