64th Dist. candidates focus on ferry, except one

ISLE OF WIGHT County

It's less about the issues and more about the talk in rural Isle of Wight County this fall, where 64th District Del. Bill Barlow has two challengers in the Nov. 3 election.

Barlow, from his Smithfield law office on Friday, didn't seem concerned. If anything, he was enthusiastic about the election, and he offered praise for both of his opponents: Stan Clark, a longtime member of the County Board of Supervisors, and Albert Burckard, a light-rail promoter and former Army officer who spends much of his time volunteering.

The talk is about the Surry ferry, which was for a short time a target of budget cuts recommended by the Virginia Department of Transportation, and about Smithfield police officer Kurt Beach. Barlow managed to get financial help for Beach's medical problems after he contracted hepatitis C several years ago attempting to save a toddler's life.

The legislator, in office since 1992, said he's proud of both the ferry and the police-officer experiences.

"The situation with Kurt Beach was very unfortunate," Barlow said. "He gave mouth-to-mouth to the child.... He didn't realize the child had hepatitis C. And his diagnosis didn't occur until seven or eight years later."

Barlow was instrumental in convincing the General Assembly to assist Beach in paying his medical expenses, even though the statute of limitations had passed for a worker s' compensation claim.

As for the ferry, it's simply too important in the lives of residents on Virginia's south side for it to be eliminated, he said. "VDOT has got to make cuts, but the ferry would have been much too painful," Barlow said.

Instead, security strategies aboard the ferries were reduced significantly, saving the state about $1.6 million, Clark said. Security for such a mild-mannered ferry in a rural area should never have been so much in the first place, Clark said.

"I would dispute Mr. Barlow's claims that he saved the ferry," Clark said. "He missed the boat and was late to the dock. The Board of Supervisors got (Rep. Randy) Forbes involved in this. He saw that nobody else was spending that kind of money on ferry security."

Clark said he would like to see more economic forecasting and planning in Richmond, both points he's become familiar with in his years on the county board. He's twice been chairman.

Burckard, who has run unsuccessfully for office several times, is much more interested in light rail. He would especially like to see it on U.S. 17, where traffic is heavy on weekdays.

In fact, Burckard said, that's the only reason he's running for delegate - not to get votes but to promote light rail. "I haven't done anything to deserve votes," he said. "If I got elected, I would go to Richmond kicking and screaming."

Linda McNatt, (757) 222-5561, linda.mcnatt@pilotonline.com