The candidates for governor are getting the attention, but on Nov. 3, Virginia's voters will make another critical decision -- about which party controls the House of Delegates.

The battle for the majority will do much to determine whether the next governor gets his way on transportation funding, taxes and budget cuts. It's also important because the General Assembly will redraw legislative and congressional districts after the 2010 census.

Republicans now hold 53 House seats, Democrats 45. Two independents generally vote with the Republicans. Democrats, who hold the majority in the state Senate, need to gain six seats to take control of the House.

All 100 House seats will be on the ballot Nov. 3. While there are contests for 71 seats, fewer appear competitive. Turn to Page A11 for a look at 10 key races.

Here's a look at 10 contests for the House of Delegates that both parties think could be particularly competitive on Nov. 3.

Central Virginia 69th District -- parts of Richmond and Chesterfield County

Democrat Betsy B. Carr, independent L. Shirley Harvey and Republican Ernesto V. Sampson Jr. are competing for the seat vacated by Franklin P. Hall, a Democrat who retired and accepted a seat on the Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission.

Hall, who had served in the House since 1976, crushed his most recent GOP challenger in 2007, winning 82 percent of the vote.

But Republicans think they have a chance this time. Sampson, a financial adviser, is an African-American who is running in a majority-black district. The graduate of Virginia Military Institute is campaigning on promoting jobs and better schools.

Carr is a more familiar name in the community through her 5th District seat on the Richmond School Board and her work as outreach director at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in downtown Richmond. She won her party's nomination in June in a three-way primary.

In her door-to-door district tour, Carr says she wants to use her experience on the School Board and in her community work at the state level.

"Schools and jobs, transportation is an issue, safe and secure neighborhoods," she said.

Harvey, a former Richmond city councilwoman, ran against Hall for this House seat in 2005. She said she's "the person who can represent anyone" as an independent.

"I don't have any political ties," said Harvey, a former accountant. "So I'm right in the right place at the right time because we have got to do something about overspending, and we've got to stop playing games with the people in this city."

Sampson's message focuses on improving schools, bringing more jobs to the area and making the district business-friendly.

"It's not about the party; it's about the people of the district," he said. "Once we talk to people, they've been very receptive and seeing past Republican versus Democrat."

73rd District -- parts of Henrico County and Richmond

The battle between Del. John M. O'Bannon III, R-Henrico, and his Democratic challenger, Tom J. Shields, is heating up.

Shields is targeting O'Bannon's record in the House through glossy campaign mail pieces, trying to paint him as "part of the herd" and more interested in politics than representing his constituents.

O'Bannon's team has fired back, accusing Shields of going negative while he criticizes O'Bannon for partisanship.

Shields is administrator of a leadership program at the University of Richmond. O'Bannon, a physician, is seeking a sixth term.

One of the central debates in the campaign involves O'Bannon's vote on a budget amendment that would have accelerated a $14 million grant to now-bankrupt Qimonda AG.

O'Bannon voted against the measure. He has said that had the amendment been approved, the $14 million would not have been allocated until after Qimonda had filed for bankruptcy. He says that might have tied up the money in a bankruptcy court in Munich.

Shields maintains that the vote cost Henrico County 2,700 jobs.

The contest ranked ninth among all House races in cash raised from Jan. 1, 2008, through Aug. 31. Shields raised $43,382 in July and August -- the most recent reporting period -- giving him $48,783 on hand heading into September.

O'Bannon brought in $84,460 in the same period, leaving him with $202,819 on hand.

Southside 14th District -- parts of Danville and Henry and Pittsylvania counties

Del. Daniel W. Marshall III, R-Danville, is trying to fend off a challenge from Democrat F. Seward Anderson, who served for 10 years as mayor of Danville.

Both candidates say they are focused on the region's struggling economy. The area faces the state's worst unemployment.

Marshall, the past president of Marshall Concrete Products and a former member of the Danville City Council, has represented the district since 2002. Anderson works in the financial-services industry.