By Tracey Wainwright

Although Republicans now control the General Assembly, the state’s highway contractors gave slightly more money – and most of their big contributions – to Democratic legislators during the 1999 election cycle.

Through its political action committee, the Old Dominion Highway Contractors Association, which represents highway contractors and the highway industry, donated $45,750 to state lawmakers.

The Old Dominion Highway PAC divided its contributions almost evenly among Republicans and Democrats, with a portion to the Legislature’s lone Independent. A committee decides what candidates receive the PAC’s contributions.

"We basically look at the general philosophy of the candidates, the committees they serve and if they’re involved in any transportation issues," said Ben Dendy, the association’s lobbyist.

The PAC, organized in October 1998, gave $23,000 to Democratic legislators, $22,250 to Republican lawmakers and $500 to Independent Delegate Lacey E. Putney of Bedford.

The recipients of the biggest donations were Democrats, including:

• Delegate Richard C. Cranwell, D-Vinton, who received $3,000. He is the House minority floor leader and chairman of the House Finance Committee.

• Former House Speaker Thomas W. Moss Jr., D-Norfolk, $2,000.

• Delegate John H. Tate Jr., D-Marion, $1,500.

• Senate Minority Leader Richard L. Saslaw, D-Springfield, $1,500.

Current House Speaker S. Vance Wilkins, Jr., R-Amherst, received $1,000.

Trying to secure its legislative interests, the Old Dominion Highway PAC seemed to focus its contributions toward committees handling transportation and money.

Delegate John A. Rollison III, R-Woodbridge, co-chair of the House Transportation Committee, and Sen. William C. Wampler Jr., R-Bristol, head of the Senate Transportation Committee, each received $1,000.

The PAC gave $500 to Delegate Vincent F. Callahan Jr., R-McLean, co-chair of the House Appropriations Committee. On the other hand, Sen. John H. Chichester, R-Fredericksburg, received nothing from the PAC even though he heads the Senate Finance Committee.

Although many politicians and political experts foresaw a new Republican majority, Dendy said the PAC decided to give to the Democratic leadership anyway.

"Their leadership was more consolidated at that time," Dendy said, "while the Republican Party’s was more diverse."