In 1969, Linwood Holton was elected the Republican governor of Virginia. As capitol correspondent for WTVR in Richmond, I covered the race extensively. After his election, the new governor had a breakfast at the mansion for all the reporters who had covered the campaign. I remember sitting on the porch with the lead newsman at WRVA Radio, an older and wiser gentleman than I, and hearing how it was a new beginning for the state. And indeed, it was.

In Virginia, the top positions are voted on separately. As it happened, even though the new governor was a Republican, the new lieutenant governor was a Democrat. For a news reporter, this was a goldmine. These two politicians were always closely watching each other. If the governor announced a new program or incentive, I could generally get a sound bite from the lieutenant governor as to why it was not such a good thing. The reverse was also true. And if the lieutenant governor was not available, I could always go to the Democratic Attorney General.  It was a great time to be in the news business. -dm-