"... [Emily Couric's] death leaves initial shock and disbelief, then sadness among many people who knew her, because her potential and future seemed so bright. Many added their faith to her belief that she would become Virginia's first woman governor.

Democrats and Republicans now face the uncomfortable task of soon nominating candidates for a special election likely to be called for mid- to-late December to fill the remaining two years of Couric's second four-year term.

Brushing aside speculation in governmental circles Thursday that the special election would be held in Couric's old Madison-to-Nelson Senate district, state officials Friday said the area's unwanted Christmas election gift will be held in the new 25th Senate District.

That more Democratic-performing district stretches from northeastern Albemarle County to the West Virginia line west of Covington and loses voters in Greene, Madison and Orange counties.

A friend and colleague of Couric's, Del. Mitchell Van Yahres, D-Charlottesville, might have carried the new district had he decided to run.

'I thought about it five seconds before deciding not to,' Van Yahres said.

Couric told Charlottesville City Councilor David Toscano in April that she thought he might succeed her, but the Democrat now avoids any discussion of a possible bid.

'It's much too early for people to be talking about this,' he said Friday night.

Party leaders said no one is about to announce for the unexpired term despite a special election being perhaps two short months away.

GOP leaders said Sharon Jones, a local day care center owner who chairs the Virginia Child Day Care Council, is a serious contender urged by many Republicans to run.

Jones, like Toscano, said Friday night she feels it would be too early to talk about it.

William B. Harvey, Albemarle County's Democratic Party chairman, said he would be surprised if there were not at least two potential candidates on Charlottesville City Council considering a bid by later this week.

Del. R. Creigh Deeds, a Bath County Democrat from the new district's western end, was mentioned by several party leaders as a potential candidate.

'Right now, I'm running for reelection to the House of Delegates. That kind of has my attention,' Deeds said Saturday.

'It's hard to even think about,' he said. 'Emily was a bright light and a leader, and was going to be a leader in this party for a long time.'

Deeds, like many others, said he was shocked at news of her death, as she had been so strong in her determination to keep doing her job and fighting her disease.

'If anybody was going to beat that thing, it was going to be Emily Couric,' said Deeds, who leads the Democratic Caucus in the House of Delegates and has previously considered seeking statewide office.

Blake Caravati, Charlottesville's mayor, agreed with Harvey that perhaps a couple of city councilors might emerge in a week but declined to speculate whether he or others might.

'I'm sure more will come on the Democratic side of the fence,' although whoever runs will find it emotionally hard, given their closeness to Couric and admiration for her to 'ever fill her shoes.'

On the GOP side, more than one candidate also can be expected, party leaders said.

One highly placed Republican said that GOP candidate Rob Bell had better beat Democrat Charles S. Martin in the 58th House District by better than a 51-49% margin or Martin would be in prime position to run around and capture a Senate seat if he were to narrowly lose the tight and expensive House contest.

One unusual twist in the special election will be that whoever wins it will be one of two state senators listed as representing the 25th's new communities of Rockbridge, Bath and Alleghany counties plus Buena Vista and Covington.

Couric said often since April, when they were added, that she looked forward to representing the residents of those western Virginia communities.

That was one of many personal traits that people around Charlottesville said they really liked and admired in Couric. A rare blend of optimist and realist, she was always looking forward.

Looking forward, it's hard not to see her there." (Bob Gibson, The Daily Progress, October 21, 2001).