Richmond mayoral candidate William J. Pantele is accusing two staff members of the Democratic Party of Virginia of improperly participating in a vote last week to endorse rival Dwight Clinton Jones.

Craig Bieber, Pantele's campaign manager, sent a letter today to party Chairman C. Richard Cranwell, asking whether party rules allowed the staff members, Political Director Don Mark and Finance Director Lincoln Saunders, to take part in Thursday night's vote by the Richmond City Democratic Committee.

"It is deeply troubling that two of the party's paid staff members openly took sides on a local party vote to endorse a candidate in a non-partisan election where two of the candidates are active members of the Democratic Committee," Bieber said.

Cranwell had no immediate comment, saying he had not seen the letter. Saunders also had no immediate comment. Mark and Levar Stoney, the state party's executive director, could not be reached.

The Richmond City Democratic Committee was not scheduled to vote on an endorsement in the five-candidate race for mayor. That changed, however, with a motion from the floor for the committee to endorse Jones, a member of the House of Delegates. That vote prevailed easily, according to committee officials.

Paul Goldman, another candidate for mayor, has filed an appeal with party leaders, saying all committee members were not given notice that such a vote would be taken.

The committee's endorsement is important considering Richmond's strong Democratic leanings and Barack Obama's bid for the presidency.

In his letter, Bieber asks whether the state party plans to list Jones on Democratic sample ballots in Richmond.

-- Will Jones