Del. Lacey Putney, I-Bedford, will be going back to Richmond in January for his 51 st year in the House of Delegates.
However, his victory in a three-way race Tuesday night was the closest contest Putney has experienced in decades because a Republican candidate was on the ballot against him.
Putney saw Republican Jerry Johnson of Buchanan cut deeply into the vote that he, as a conservative independent, usually collects.
Putney emerged with 42 percent of the vote, a comfortable margin over Johnson’s 32 percent but far short of the 70-percent majorities he’s had in recent elections.
Democrat Lewis Medlin of Montvale received 26 percent of the vote. One precinct still hadn’t reported at press time.
Putney’s 19 th House District was redrawn this year, adding Alleghany County to its borders. Redistricting took most of the Big Island and Forest areas out of Putney’s district for the first time.
Putney, 83, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, sits in the House Republican caucus and plays a key role in the House Rules Committee.
He routinely carries governor-backed legislation for financial initiatives, and last year sponsored an unsuccessful measure to overhaul the Virginia Retirement System.
The overhaul is near the top of Gov. Bob McDonnell’s legislative agenda, and may return to the General Assembly calendar in January.
Johnson’s challenge marked the first time in many years a Republican ran against Putney, and the contest led to endorsements for Putney from Gov Bob McDonnell, state Sen. Steve Newman, R-Lynchburg, and several other Republican leaders.
Putney is among the nation’s longest-serving state legislators, although Wisconsin state Sen. Fred Risser holds the national record at 55 years.
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