"David J. Toscano, Charlottesville’s mayor from 1994 to 1996 and a city councilor for 12 years until 2002, is announcing his bid for the House of Delegates today as a Democrat determined to “create economic opportunity for the broadest cross-section of the public.”

Toscano, 54, said he is running for the Democratic Party nomination in the 57th District as a “fiscally responsible progressive” with two decades of public service and a desire to speak for those who feel left out of the area’s prosperity.

“I’ve always tried to advocate for those who felt that they didn’t have a voice in the process and for those who felt they were out of the economic mix,” Toscano said.

A lawyer in a small firm with former Mayor Francis Buck and Terry L. Tereskerz, Toscano is a former James Madison University sociology professor who ran for Congress in 1982 as a Citizens Party candidate. He finished well behind the late 7th District Rep. J. Kenneth Robinson, R-Winchester, who won handily, and Scottsville Democrat Lindsay G. Dorrier Jr., the runner-up.

Democratic Party officials from Charlottesville and Albemarle County huddled behind closed doors Wednesday for discussions of whether to pick a nominee in a late May convention or a June 14 party primary.

The discussions in the office of Del. Mitchell Van Yahres, D-Charlottesville, broke up late in the afternoon with no decision reached.

“I’ll live with whatever is decided, and I’ll work hard to get the nomination in whatever forum is presented,” Toscano said. “I feel I’ll do fine in either, although a primary probably becomes more costly to my campaign.”

Toscano said his campaign to succeed Van Yahres in the House could raise and spend about $125,000.

Charlottesville Republican Chairman Robert P. Hodous said the GOP’s choice of a nomination method will be made Monday night. He believes the choice will be “probably by a mass meeting.”

Three potential Republican candidates with varying degrees of interest have spoken with him, Hodous said. He declined to name them until they decide whether to seek the seat. City businessman Thomas McCrystal and Albemarle day-care center owner Sharon Jones are mentioned as possible candidates by other GOP officials.

City Councilor Blake Caravati, who had thought about running, said Wednesday he is strongly backing Toscano.

“I think David would be great,” Caravati said. “He is not only better organized but better prepared and far more qualified than anyone I’ve heard mentioned.”

Van Yahres on Wednesday called Toscano “an excellent candidate,” but added that he will not endorse anyone prior to the nomination. “I’d be glad to work with whoever wins,” he said.

Peter L. Sheras, a clinical psychologist who teaches in the University of Virginia’s education school, said Wednesday that he is mulling a bid for the House seat.

“I haven’t made up my mind yet,” said Sheras, who is Democratic Party precinct chairman in the Jack Jouett Magisterial District. “I probably won’t know for a few days. It’s kind of a hard choice at this point.”

William B. Harvey, a former Albemarle Democratic Party chairman, also has expressed interest in running, as has Meredith Richards, a former city councilor.

In addition, UVa history professor Jeffrey Rossman and former City Council hopeful Waldo Jaquith have been mentioned as potential candidates, Democratic Party officials said.

Jaquith said Wednesday night that “It’s important to me that Charlottesville be represented by a progressive Democrat in the mold of Van Yahres. A number of people have suggested to me that I may be that progressive Democrat - and I'm certainly considering it - but I’m still looking for a candidate.”" (Bob Gibson, The Daily Progress, March 10, 2005)

Contact Bob Gibson at (434) 978-7243 or bgibson@dailyprogress.com.