Del. Hamilton rejects calls to resign over ODU efforts

A defiant Del. Phillip A. Hamilton, R-Newport News, says he has no intention of resigning, as five statewide office-seekers have urged.

"Their collective opinions have not lessened my resolve to continue serving the people of the 93rd District," he said in a statement.

Hamilton is under fire for pursuing a job at a new teaching center at Old Dominion University before he put in a $500,000 budget amendment for the center's creation. E-mails also show Hamilton suggested his salary ($40,000) for the part-time job at ODU.

Speaker of the House William J. Howell, RStafford, has asked the House Ethics Advisory Council to investigate whether Hamilton violated the state's Conflict of Interest Act.

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine agreed with this stance yesterday on the Washington radio show "Ask the Governor."

"What Delegate Hamilton did was way, way, way over the line," Kaine said on WTOP.

Like Howell, Kaine did not call for Hamilton's resignation. But the Democratic and Republican candidates for governor, R. Creigh Deeds and Bob McDonnell, have, as have the Democrat and Republican running for lieutenant governor and the Democrat running for attorney general.

The chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia, Pat Mullins, also sought Hamilton's resignation.

There was no word on when the five-member ethics panel would meet. Its meetings are secret. The panel's members include Phyllis Galanti of Richmond.

In his statement, Hamilton said the comments of those who want him to resign are based on news accounts and "do not coincide with the response I am receiving as I campaign door-to-door in the 93rd District."

Hamilton said he will continue to campaign until Election Day, Nov. 3. He faces opposition from a Newport News lawyer, Democrat Robin A. Abbott.

Hamilton, a 21-year veteran of the House of Delegates, is vice chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and one of the negotiators who hammer out differences between House and Senate budget plans.

He has admitted he showed poor judgment in pursuing the job. On Thursday, ODU and Hamilton severed their ties.

In other matters he addressed on the radio show, Kaine said:

• He supports the public option that President Barack Obama is seeking as part of his proposal to overhaul health care. The plan would set up a government insurer to compete with private insurers and bring down health-care costs, Kaine said. But he said he did not want to see the public option kill all attempts at a health-care overhaul.

• Kaine said he is an asset to the gubernatorial prospects of Deeds, the Democratic nominee for governor, but that he doesn't have to campaign with him as frequently because so many other Democrats hold public office in Virginia and can campaign for Deeds.

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