 John H. "Jack" Rust Jr. By Robert A. Reeder/TWP |
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, February 2, 1998; Page C01 He has been in Virginia's House of Delegates for only the last two years, but already Del. John H. "Jack" Rust Jr., a pudgy, placid Republican from Fairfax County, is being touted as a possible future House speaker -- and a symbol of the new generation of GOP lawmakers who are taking over the legislature.
Three weeks ago, Rust's 10-minute ad-lib on the history, logic and philosophy of democracy silenced an opening-day political brawl that had turned the lower chamber into the Animal House of Delegates. In the days afterward, he was a key player in negotiations that gave Republicans an unprecedented share of power in the 100-member House, where the GOP holds 49 seats and has the support of the lone independent.
How did the unassuming House delegate who ranks 87th in seniority become such a player?
For Rust, a 50-year-old lawyer from Annandale, it's partly a case of right time, right place. After years of partisan sniping, Republicans and Democrats are learning that for at least the next few years, the power-sharing pacts in the divided House and Senate will require them to work together more than ever before, or face legislative gridlock.
That makes Rust -- articulate, conciliatory, and with none of the political battle scars of many more experienced Republicans -- a hot prospect, GOP and Democratic lawmakers agree.
"Everybody on our side thinks he's one of the most intelligent members of the House," said Del. Linda T. "Toddy" Puller (D-Fairfax). "He has assumed a very quick, high-visibility leadership position."
Republicans are aiming for a majority in the House in the 1999 or 2001 elections, and the buzz in both parties is that if the GOP takes over, it might bypass older, more senior lawmakers in favor of someone like Rust.
But regardless of whether Rust ever becomes speaker, his emergence reflects how seniority is becoming less important in Virginia's legislature, which for more than century has been guided largely by tradition.
Rust's rise -- along with those of Northern Virginia Republicans who ascended to committee leadership posts because of the power-sharing deal he helped broker -- is likely to help the region gain clout in the General Assembly. Despite its wealth and population, Northern Virginia sometimes has taken a back seat in the legislature, where rural downstate lawmakers often have had the upper hand.
The defining moment of Rust's legislative career -- so far, at least -- came during that chaotic opening session on Jan. 14, when he rose to argue that three newly elected Republicans should be allowed to join the House immediately, instead of waiting the customary three days for election officials to certify the results.
If the three had taken their oaths of office that day, Republicans and the GOP-leaning independent could have elected their own speaker. Instead, Democrats, who had held an overwhelming majority in the House for most of the century, skirted rowdy Republicans' delaying tactics and reelected House Speaker Thomas W. Moss Jr. (D-Norfolk).
"This is fundamental to the fairness of what we are doing," Rust said in urging the seating of the three newcomers. "It's not proper that we disenfranchise 200,000 people."
The Democrats won the day, but Rust's climb into the legislature's power structure was launched.
Now, he is one of two House Republicans who attend meetings of the Senate Republican Caucus to coordinate party strategy between the chambers. Rust also won a coveted seat on the finance subcommittee that was appointed last week to help what is likely to be the dominant issue of the session, Gov. James S. Gilmore III's plan to begin phasing out the property tax on cars and trucks.
Three of the House's young Republican leaders were elected to the state Senate in special elections in the last six weeks, creating room in the House's power structure for Republicans such as Rust, 39-year-old H. Morgan Griffith of Salem, and Robert F. McDonnell, 43, of Virginia Beach.
They are the young turks in a chamber where Del. Harry J. Parrish (R-Prince William), 75, refers to Rust, 50, as "a very intelligent young man."
Del. Thomas M. Jackson Jr. (D-Carroll), 40, himself a younger leader taking over from the old bulls of his party, said Rust "has a very easy personality that works well on the Democratic side."
"He understands the value of trust and relationship-building in this process," Jackson said. "He is much more skilled at that, I think, than some others on their side."
Several Republicans said that because Rust was not involved in several vicious partisan battles in recent years, he's a fresh face who can negotiate more effectively with Democrats. Before the 1995 elections, when Republicans mistakenly thought they would win a majority in the House, Republican leader S. Vance Wilkins Jr. of Amherst, 61, sent Speaker Moss a letter demanding transition arrangements. Moss and other Democrats were outraged, and some continue to see Wilkins as politically clumsy.
"When Vance or I go in [to negotiate with Democrats], it sends up the red flag," said Del. Leo C. Wardrup Jr. (R-Virginia Beach), 61, chairman of the House Republican Caucus, explaining the attraction of having Rust as a negotiator.
Rust, a lifelong Fairfax resident who represents central Fairfax County and about two-thirds of Fairfax City, actually was in the House of Delegates from 1980 to 1982, but then was defeated in a primary after he was painted as a liberal. After nearly 14 years as a lawyer and Little League dad, he won a special election for his House seat in 1996, then was elected to a full two-year term in November.
Rust said he was steeped in the more cordial atmosphere that prevailed when he first came to Richmond, when Republicans were no threat to Democrats' power.
"I remember that more, and perhaps I'm more comfortable with trusting people on the other side of the aisle, which makes them more comfortable in dealing with me," he said. "It doesn't make you any less an advocate for your position, but sometimes if you understand other people's points of view, you can get more done."
Rust is the third generation of Rusts to practice law in Fairfax City. He received undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Virginia, was Fairfax City attorney from 1974 to 1978, and now practices with the firm of McCandlish and Lillard. His father, John H. Rust, was the mayor of Fairfax City in 1940 and 1941.
Besides winning friends at the Capitol with his deft diplomacy, the younger Rust aims to please business leaders back home by pushing a bill to create the Virginia Technology Training Act, which would provide loan guarantees and other incentives for instruction in information technology.
He said that besides the change in tone, the biggest difference between the House now and the one he left in 1982 is the sharp party splits in votes, which increased as Republicans gained strength. Before, vote blocs were more often regional, since Democrats' dominance had made partisan issues practically irrelevant. Rust expects that with the parties sharing power, regional coalitions will resurface.
"There is a substantial unity of interests among the suburban jurisdictions," Rust said. "You're very likely to see Fairfax and Prince William and Chesterfield and Henrico and Virginia Beach beginning to express some type of unified position in terms of critical needs for transportation and schools, and issues concerning growth and economic development."
Rust said he is flattered but a bit nervous about speculation that he could be speaker some day. Wilkins long has coveted the job and has devoted most of his life to recruiting and electing Republicans.
"There are a lot of things that enter into the responsibilities of speaker and a lot of things that have to be thought through," Rust said. "But Vance is kind of the one who brought us to the dance, and I'd like to continue to give him an opportunity to have a chance at being elected speaker. It would take a lot to turn away from that."
Wilkins said he admires Rust's attitude and ability, and acknowledged he has "no baggage to hang anyone up."
The old guard goes hard, however. As to the possibility of Rust running for speaker, Wilkins said, "Well, it's a free country."
© Copyright 1998 The Washington Post Company
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