Cox and Carr get nods in primary races

John A. Cox, a Hanover County trucking company owner, scored a narrow victory yesterday over prosecutor Rusty McGuire in the Republican primary for the House of Delegates' 55th District.

Jerry Burch of Mechanicsville finished third.

In the battle for the Democratic nomination in Richmond's 69th House District, School Board member Betsy Carr defeated businessman Carlos Brown and Antione Green.

The two Richmond-area contests were fought mainly through the mail and through person-to-person contact.

Statewide, nine Democratic candidates and three Republican candidates were chosen in House of Delegates primaries yesterday.

Six of the Democrats were chosen to run for open seats in which the incumbent is retiring. Three Democratic incumbents were challenged in primaries, however. Dels. Onzlee Ware of Roanoke and Algie T. Howell Jr. of Norfolk won easily, while 16-year veteran Del. Robert D. Hull of Fairfax County lost to L. Kaye Kory, who serves on the Fairfax School Board.

The Republican primary race in Hanover grew nasty at the end with Cox and McGuire accusing each other of bad faith. Cox had the backing of most of the Republican elected officials in the county, as well as Rep. Eric I. Cantor, R-7th.

The Republican nominee in the staunchly Republican 55th House District will be a strong favorite to win in November. The seat came open when Del. Frank D. Hargrove Sr. announced his retirement after 28 years.

The 69th House District, consisting of parts of South Richmond and Chesterfield County, is considered a safe Democratic seat.

The incumbent, Del. Franklin P. Hall, a Democrat, resigned to take a seat on the board of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission. Hall had served in the House of Delegates since 1976.

Contact Tyler Whitley at (804) 649-6780 or .