The Virginian-Pilot
©
NORFOLK
A system instituted two years ago to elect the mayor discriminates against black voters and has strengthened the City Council’s white majority, a lawsuit filed Wednesday states.
Roy Perry-Bey, a longtime critic of the city and a convicted sex offender, filed the lawsuit in U.S. Federal District Court.
Perry-Bey said he is basing his claim on a 1990 Supreme Court case that ordered Norfolk to abandon at-large elections for council in favor of a ward system. The court ruled that the at-large system unfairly discriminated against black voters.
Seven council members have been elected by ward since 1992. However, since 2006, the mayor has been elected at large. The change, adopted by the council in 2005, has altered the composition of the body from a 4-3 white majority to 5-3.
Paul Fraim became the city’s first elected mayor in nearly a century after a lengthy process that included a referendum and approval from the General Assembly and U.S. Justice Department.
“The Supreme Court has spoken and told the city it must elect the council by ward, and they’re not following the law,” Perry-Bey said.
Perry-Bey filed the lawsuit on behalf of his daughter, Christina, a registered voter. Because he is a convicted felon, Perry-Bey does not have the right to vote and can not file suit alone.
Perry-Bey said he has not hired an attorney, but he hopes to persuade local groups, such as the NAACP, to join his lawsuit.
Norfolk NAACP President James Rivers said Wednesday that he doesn’t know Perry-Bey and has no knowledge of the lawsuit.
Perry-Bey, who has been absent from the public eye during the past few years, has spoken frequently on racial issues at public meetings. He said he has been in Africa on business.
According to Circuit Court records, Perry-Bey was convicted in 1987 of threatening to blow up Norfolk police headquarters. He later was convicted of aggravated sexual battery of a juvenile. He was sentenced to five years in prison.
In 2001, he was indicted on charges of failing to register as a sex offender. The charges were later dropped.
He said the sexual assault trial resulted “in a false conviction. I’m still trying to clear my name.”
He said his criminal past won’t affect the case.
“That’s not the issue,” he said. “The issue is the city is not following the law.”
Harry Minium, (757) 446-2371, harry.minium@pilotonline.com
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Whateva LocalFolks
If the white majority has ruled this city with such dignity, then that explains the city's high crime rate & high number of homeless people. That explains why the city has chosen to demolish the homes of thousands of less fortunate family in order to build homes for those born with a silver spoon in their mouth. That explains all the crooked council members that we have sittin gon the board right now. that explains why police officers are shooting down kids in the street & saying that it was neccesary. that would explain the increase in the drop out rate among our teens. Thank you so much for finally steppin gup to the plate and accepting responsibilty for the city's decline. For once ,you didnt blame it on the black community. And as for judging that man by the content of his character, how about not judging him at all. Believe it or not, you are not God. White dont make you right. but again, the black community thanks you. Be blessed.
Race
We are judging this man by "the content of his character and not by the color of mis skin." The only real racists in this city are a few loud black folks. Since they don't like this place they need to leave and make their lives somewhere else. Our white majority has ruled with great dignity and character. So sit down, shut up and vote your conscience, then see how you will lose your argument.
Well said mstynitty!
I do not live in Norfolk therefore that system of govt. does not affect me. However, I read all news articles regarding ANY city government and I find they are all similar. It appears that ALL city leaders put their own interests and those of their developer cronies ahead of the citizens that make up the populace. Time and time again the wants and needs of the public are put aside to cater to the whims of those in charge. A perfect example is the 31st Street Project in VB (AKA lining the pockets of developers.) Or the demolition of historical buildings in Norfolk in the name of "revitalization." Or the demolition of the Holiday Inn in Portsmouth to build hideous looking condos and shops in its place. All 3 projects opposed by the masses but pushed forward by the hierarchy. And what you said about the "personal time" of certain council persons mstynitty- you hit the nail on the head. The stories I could tell about some Ptown govt officials! JMO
at the end of the day,
at the end of the day, regardless of what this man has done, he is still a child of God. As a mother i am furious @ the thought of this man ruining an innocent child's innocence, but one, i serve an awesome God who said "the best revenge is mine" & secondly, there are two sides to every story. Nobody knows what went down but that man, that child & God. Who are we to judge & condemn that man's voice? But The real issue here is how fair will it be to the afican american community if this new system is adopted? As a member of the Black community I happen to think our current mayor is doing a good job while our black vice mayor should wrap his bow tie over his head & shut up. I appreciate Randy Wright because he is an upfront racist, so i know how to approach him, and Barclay Winn is a hypocrite. His opinion of drugs in the media is so no nonsense, but ask him his opinion in a darl alley on a Friday night in Park Place. But hey, who am i to judge? All I am saying is adopt a system that is fair to all races, the new mayor could be purple, but if he does a good job, then kudos to him
Just curious........
Do mayoral candidates have to take written tests that include math word problems?? If so, just get a job at the police department. It does not matter what kind of electoral system is put into place. You can not please all of the people all of the time. Ask Al Gore, remember the November 2000 election? Who won the popular vote and who became president? I wonder how Norfolk counts their "hanging chads"? I am curious to know exactly how the convicted felon thinks he has been short-changed by the current mayor and council. Does he have specific concerns or evidence of wrong doing or is he just making noise so that he can enjoy his 15 minutes of fame?
same issue covered 15 aug 2005 by same reporter -
Consensus then? no worries mate; numerous reputable norfolk black leaders; (Joshua paige, ulysus Turner etc.) voiced their opinion and it was this; let see how it plays out, 2005. Since then, Dawn Hester title of Vice Mayor was removed and awarded Anthony ' Boss' Burfoot, NRHA has destroyed numerous Historic structures and well as inner city housing, displacing many minority families and as a consequence deminishing the number of minorities in Norfolk. The cenus is what determines the lines (areas) for the ward system. This is managed by NSU using the results of each 10 year census result. The census is very important when it comes to citizen programs and funding - and how the neighborhoods are represented. If, big if here, three of the seven small wards are determined to have a majority of minorities rather then the present 2, wards 3 and 4, three minority candidates will likely run to represent these minority areas. Why was the Mayor's position decided to be voted at large? because, Norfolk is attracting major investors and developers and a moyor is spending more and more time presenting the city to all of these interst. Mayor Fraim is a lawyer, his office, practice is do
Black History Month
TO SWD2K
There is a Black History month because it has not been taught to society as a whole...I know growing up I was taught nothing in school about what my race had done as a people but I learned 9 months out of the year history about every one else but me except the small blurb about slavery that was always included in text books...White privaledge is great in the U.S. that's why when anything is done that is foreign to you it is prejudice...We have learned your history all of our life..it is great to have atleast one month out of the year when our history can be shared with everyone..I choose to celebrate my history everyday of the year and have learned and openly accepted yours..that is why there is a Black History Month it has nothing to do with being prejudice but learning about our history that we were not privy to in the American Educational System!! and I am not talking about Martin Luther King Jr...we had plenty of other leaders besides him.........
WAHT?
There was a hot dog eating contest last week?
swd
To clarify, smokers should only be shot when they light up around me.
I will admit I exhibit an open schadenfreude towards just about everyone. Especially smart-ass Pilot posters.
Why do we care?
This article is silly. Why waste precious ink on the deluded ramblings of a convicted sex criminal?
He can't vote, why does the city council even let him speak? Why is a reporter following the political ramblings of a criminal who can't even vote? His thoughts are irrelevant.
I sure hope they wash the microphone after he speaks.