By JOHN GOOLRICK

By JOHN GOOLRICK

Rappahannock News Special Writer

Although his late entry into the gubernatorial race doomed his candidacy from the start, Raymond R. “Andy” Guest Jr. departed the race as a class act whose political career is far from over.

Del. Guest was mulling over a bid for governor two years ago and would have garnered much more support had he made public his intentions then.

But at the expense of his own candidacy, he chose instead to put it on hold until he successfully steered through the General Assembly a referendum on pari-mutuel betting.

While he was tending to legislative duties, other Republican gubernatorial aspirants were busy rounding up backers. When Del. Guest finally declared his candidacy, most party activists had chosen sides between Paul S. Trible, J. Marshall Coleman and'Stan Parris.

Even so, the brief Del. Guest run showed him as one unwilling to attempt gains by negative comments about his opponents. As the minority leader in a House of Delegates that is heavily Democratic, Guest knows Republicans can regain the governorship and make inroads in the legislature only if they are strong and unified.

He happens to believe the path to more power does not lie in savage intra-party strife that leaves everyone, victors and losers alike, wounded even before they enter into combat against Democrats.

At this writing in early April it appears Del. Guest, who said earlier he wouldn’t seek re-election, may change his mind. That would be good news for a party that desperately needs the services of such a skilled veteran when the watershed redistricting issues comes up in 1991.

And should a Republican become governor, that chief executive would be able to lean heavily on the advice of Del. Guest who, though not yet 50, has been a state legislator for 17 years and knows as much or more about the issues and legislative process as any member of the Assembly.

Despite his blueblood background - his father is a former Am