This past Thursday, a giant of Virginia politics was lost to natural causes at the age of 87. Moss was from Norfolk, and Speakers from Hampton Roads aren’t exactly common.
However, Moss’ tenure turned out one of transition of the last vestiges of Democratic power in the House of Delegates.
Moss was known for a certain sense of humor, and one that wasn’t fully appreciated even by members of his own caucus. He replaced Speaker A.L. Philpott, who was an intimidating Speaker and ruled pretty much with an iron fist until his death.
Moss’ reputation was more colloquial, the Washington Post calling his style “college-boy humor”.
But history notes that Moss presided over the downfall of Democratic control of the House of Delegates. Upon taking the Speaker’s oath, Moss had a Governor, Lt Governor, Attorney General and 59 members of the House in the Democratic column.
He left the Speakership as Republicans held the offices of Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General and 52 seats in the House, making the first Republican majority since Reconstruction.
It wasn’t pretty. Moss should’ve lost the Speakership in 1998 due to Republicans gaining a one-vote margin in the House due to retirements and three special elections. By holding the Speaker’s election prior to seating the three Republican Delegates, Moss kept the Chair. It was an ugly spectacle an a sad ending to a career, since Republicans gained an outright majority soon after and Democrats haven’t been close since.
Moss retired soon after, with redistricting consolidating Norfolk. Moss chose to run for Norfolk Treasurer and won, serving until he retired in 2014.
Moss served almost exclusively in opposition to Republican Governors, save for the first few years with Gov. Wilder (and those weren’t cumbaya years of Democrat unity). While he was certainly a partisan and knew and utilized the power he had, I wonder if he ever thought that his Speakership came too late. I used to compare him a little to Tip O’Neill, who was the opposition to the Executive but history was making him a transitional bridge to the opposition party eventually taking over.
Norfolk hasn’t been the same since he left. The power vacuum is evident, and with the retirement of longtime Mayor Paul Fraim, it will be even more so.
Moss’ House of Delegates was indeed different. No blogs. No internet. No YouTube. No cell phone cameras. More than a few nights at the downtown Holiday Inn bar, where some claim to have heard a brave Tom Moss belt out “Danny Boy.”
Man, that would’ve gone viral.
RIP, Mr. Speaker.
