By Deirdre Fernandes
The Virginian-Pilot
Virginia Beach
Councilman Bill DeSteph sent out invitations last week for a gathering of Republican city, state and federal elected officials.
By Monday, the proposed meeting had turned into a political tempest, forcing DeSteph to postpone it just hours before it was scheduled to take place.
First, some of the state delegates said their schedules wouldn't allow them to attend the 6 p.m. huddle, said DeSteph, who was organizing the event with Del. Bob Tata, R-Virginia Beach.
Then, most of the seven invited city council members declined to attend. One cited a scheduling conflict, when reached by The Virginian-Pilot Monday.
Most said they didn't want to take part in a partisan event and worried that the gathering could be interpreted as a secret meeting because neither the public nor the press had been notified.
"The fact that a majority of the council would be meeting behind closed doors is something that would likely be perceived negatively by the average citizen, whether legal or not," Councilman Jim Wood wrote to DeSteph in an e-mail on Sunday afternoon.
State law allows three or more council members to gather for social and political reasons without public notice as long as they don't discuss city business, said Les Lilley, Virginia Beach's city attorney.
Councilman Bob Dyer wrote DeSteph that he was troubled "by the fact that a number of members of Council have been excluded from this meeting."
"I feel that such meeting would prove to be divisive," Dyer added.
DeSteph invited all council members except for Mayor Meyera Oberndorf, Barbara Henley and John Uhrin. DeSteph said he invited those he thought are Republican.
Virginia Beach City Council elections are non-partisan, but several members are active in the Republican Party, DeSteph said.
The goal of the meeting was to review November's election, discuss party strategies for the coming year and how elected officials need to follow Republican core principals, DeSteph said.
But there seemed to be some confusion among some of those invited.
Councilman Harry Diezel said he thought the meeting was to give City Council members and delegates a chance to talk about legislative issues.
Tata said he thought the meeting was being held on behalf of Virginia Beach Congresswoman Thelma Drake so that she could reach out to Republican council members to help her raise money and support for her next re-election campaign.
DeSteph said he is sorry for the confusion and will reschedule it.
"It's truly a party rebuilding meeting," DeSteph said. "There's no hidden agenda."
This isn't the first time DeSteph has caused a fracas on City Council.
Earlier this month during the council's annual retreat, several council members complained that DeSteph was meeting, without the council's knowledge, with officials from Oceana Naval Air Station to talk about city business. Council members had planned to confront DeSteph about his maverick ways, but DeSteph left the retreat before the issue came up.
"He's a fast-paced guy and he wants stuff to happen and stuff is not happening," Tata said of DeSteph. "He's trying to make things happen. I guess that's it, and more power to him. Some of the people down there are fat and sassy."
Deirdre Fernandes, (757) 222-5121,
deirdre.fernandes@pilotonline.com
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Nice try Councilman DeSteph
First; get the Republicans to clean up their act and listen to those that are suppose to represent. 2nd; partisan politics is the game for our dear old over-the-hill Mayor, you know that she was with the Democrats party on Nov. 6. (VP art. dtd Nov 7). 3rd; Councilman like Mr. Wood who walk the fence but refuse to commit are not needed. Come on Jim, stand up to the plate, get out of the developers pocket. 4th; Councilman Diezel is always confused. Finally, Councilman Dyer is or was a committed Libertarian, which is great, but shouldn't be surprised by a lack of invite to a meeting by Republicans. Keep stirring up the pot Mr. DeSteph there are alot of us that like seeing City Council dazed and confused.
DeSteph
The fact that so many cancelled at the last minute speaks volumes. Virginia Beach keeps electing republicans and expecting a different result. Nothing changes - wake up people!
Partisan politics
This meeting wasn't about good governance but rather party politics. As this article indicates, there are appropriate ways to conduct policy discussions that would indeed be lawful and completely on the up and up with citizens. DeSteph is only trying to regroup his brethren following Nov. 6's stomping by Democrats. He plays for the team that wants Meyera defeated next Nov. and on its current course (in-fighting, lack of leadership) the RPVB will fail again. DeSteph fancies himself the knight in shining armor swooping in to save his party (and his ass.) Plus the cozying up to Tata is very interesting as the delegate is expected to retire soon. Luckily, the rest of Council doesn't play the same silly partisan games that DeSteph does.
I don't know this guy
I would like to meet this guy. We finally have someone on City Council willing to what is best for us common folk and others want to hold him back, thump on him. I say "keep moving" we need more Ronald Regan Republicans like him. I hope he is the President of the Republican Party. I think he is doing a good job. The term "Maverick" is a good title for someone willing to move forward. I also think that Mr. Tata is a great man for telling these people that he is trying to do the right thing and calling the other people fat and lazy. Maybe if they tried to do their job like him they would not have time to pick on him. Keep up the good work Mr. Desteph.
republican values
The roads bill showed that republican values are higher taxes and more gov't bureaucracy.
It's obvious
Bill has shown in the past, and the present and I'm sure will in the future, that he has the guts to address issues and make decisions. I say "hats off" to him! Rose wouldn't go? Booo Hoooo!!
Drama
If any other council memebr attempted anything similar, it would not be in the paper. I can't blame him for trying to bring back republican values to current illegitimate "GOP" elected officials.
VB City Council
Anything Bill DeSteph does to rock the council's little world is going to be criticized. Their world needs rocked.
Bill thinks others on Beach Council are "Republicans"? Why?
While I applaud Councilman DeSteph for trying to motivate the RPVB to become more engaged at the local level and to become better organized, I have to laugh that he would think that just because fellow council members claim to be "Republican" - they actually are. For the most part the Virginia Beach City Council is addicted to taxing and ever escalating city spending - at an alarming rate that far outpaces the ability of the average city resident to pay. Yes, the chickens have come home to roost - and the local "GOP" is going to continue to lose elections. Hey, they reap what they sow. Bill DeSteph is wise to try to deal with the mess the VB City Council has made for the GOP - and the mess the RPVB and their General Assembly members made.