RICHMOND - Party loyalty and a governor's persuasion have drawn former Del. Richard Cranwell of Vinton back into the political arena.

Cranwell, the former majority leader in the House of Delegates, has agreed to take over as chairman of the state Democratic Party later this month. Democratic officials announced Sunday that incumbent chairman Kerry Donley of Alexandria will not seek re-election when the party's ruling central committee meets on June 17.

Donley, the former mayor of Alexandria, recently accepted a job as athletic director at T.C. Williams High School. The Alexandria School Board asked Donley to step down from his state party leadership post, Democratic officials said.

Gov. Mark Warner, who selected Donley as chairman in 2003, asked Cranwell to replace Donley. Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine, the party's gubernatorial candidate, also urged Cranwell to take the chairman's post. With backing from Warner and Kaine, Cranwell should be the only candidate for the volunteer job.

"I think there's something to be said for loyalty in this world," Cranwell said Sunday afternoon. "This is a way to pay back some of the loyalty that's been extended to me over the years."

Cranwell will take over as chairman in the middle of a busy campaign season that includes elections for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and all 100 House seats. Democratic officials said Sunday that they expect Cranwell to generate excitement among the party's grass-roots activists and provide valuable insight on strategy as the campaigns heat up.

Del. Onzlee Ware, D-Roanoke, said Cranwell's presence should energize party activists in Southwest Virginia, the home turf of Republican gubernatorial candidate Jerry Kilgore.

"Dickie brings a different flavor to the party," said Ware, the second-ranking member of the state party's executive steering committee. "In the time I've been here [with the party], I don't think we've had a chairman who has been from Southwest Virginia or a chairman with such notoriety."

Susan Swecker of Richmond, a Virginia representative on the Democratic National Committee, said Cranwell "brings instant credibility and instant name recognition, from the grass roots up to the talking heads and the media."

Donley also had praise for his likely successor, saying: "Knowing Dick's leadership, commitment and his abilities as an orator, I cannot think of a better person to lead our party."

Cranwell, 62, served for 30 years in the House, where his mastery of the legislative process commanded respect and occasional fear from allies and adversaries. In the 1980s, he played key roles in steering the legislative agendas of two Democratic governors through the House. And, when Republicans George Allen and Jim Gilmore occupied the governor's mansion late in his legislative career, the tart-tongued lawyer effectively became the face and voice of his party.

Cranwell retired from the House in 2001 after a Republican-engineered redistricting plan forced him into the same district as veteran Democrat Clifton "Chip" Woodrum of Roanoke. Warner and other Democratic leaders pleaded with Cranwell to run for an open state Senate seat in 2003, but Cranwell declined.

"I really agonized over it," Cranwell said. "When he [Warner] called me this time, I really felt like I didn't have to say no to him all the time."

Warner was not available for comment Sunday.

Cranwell said he owes "a debt of gratitude" to the governor. He credited Warner for forging bipartisan agreements with the General Assembly to fix the state's budget problems, a feat that has gained the governor national attention.

"I think Virginia is on the right path now," Cranwell said. "I think he has given us a template that will work at the national level."

Cranwell said he will serve as chairman at least until Warner's successor takes office in January.

"Then we can sit down and figure out what to do," he said.

In the meantime, don't expect him to be a passive leader.

"I'll be the captain of the ship," Cranwell said. "I'm going to run it."