VIRGINIA BEACH
Robert "Bob" Tata asked the voters for one last term, and on Tuesday they gave it to him. Tata, who has served as delegate for the 85th District since 1984, said he wanted to be around to help former colleague Bob McDonnell as governor.
Challenger French D. Mackes Jr., a member of the state Constitution Party's executive committee, had offered a more conservative option, saying that Republicans have strayed too far left.
With his re-election, Tata will represent Kempsville as one of the five most senior delegates in the House. He is chair of the Education Committee and is on the Appropriations and Transportation committees.
He said his priorities for his term will be to increase transportation funding by issuing bonds and to protect education from financial cuts as much as possible.
"We have to be very selective and be very protective of the image we've built that Virginia has very good schools overall," said Tata, who has helped pass bills requiring planning time for elementary teachers and establishing city-run after-school care.
He said he will continue to push for a four-year public college in Virginia Beach and the expansion of light rail from Norfolk to near the Oceanfront. Both initiatives would create jobs, he said.
"We need people back to work. We need people spending money," he said, adding that with the numerous Republican victories statewide, "we have no excuses now."
Mackes, who cited easing traffic congestion and initiating "massive" education reform among his priorities, said his candidacy increased awareness of the Constitution Party.
Lauren Roth, (757) 222-5133, lauren.roth@pilotonline.com
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