Crowded cast vying to be Suffolk's first elected mayor

SUFFOLK

The filing deadline is still 74 days out, but the race to be the city's first directly elected mayor already has quite a cast.

So far, there's the incumbent, a businessman who held the title 22 years ago; an advertising man in his 30s; a City Council watchdog; a lawyer from the Suffolk Democratic Committee; and, now, an educator.

The latest entrant is Mike Debranski, a former principal and current School Board member. His supporters began gathering signatures on his behalf this week, said campaign treasurer Mike Babb.

"It's going to be one crowded field in November," said Andy Damiani, the former mayor who is running again after leaving his long-held council seat in 1992.

Voters will elect Suffolk's mayor for the first time this fall - the city is the last in South Hampton Roads to make the switch to a popular election for the position. Previously, the council filled the spot from among its own ranks. The change will add an eighth member to the council.

Candidates must submit 500 signatures, including at least 50 from each of the city's seven boroughs, by June 10 to be on the November ballot. No one had submitted their signatures as of Friday.

Roger Leonard, a retired Navy submariner and businessman who rarely misses a chance to tell the council his opinion, said he wants to collect 2,000 to 3,000 names.

"I think I'm about 800 right now," he said Friday, adding that he's found it easier to collect names at events.

"Getting this many, it wears you out if you try to do it door to door," he said.

Tom Powell Jr., the 37-year-old president of his own advertising agency, said people have responded since his intention to run became public two weeks ago.

"I think people are really responding to the new, fresh blood," he said.

Former Mayor Bobby Ralph, who lost his re-election bid in 2006, said he, Babb and others had been meeting over the past month to discuss ideas and potential candidates. Debranski, who was out of town and unavailable for comment, emerged as the person everyone in the group could support, he said.

Linda Johnson, the current mayor, and Ira Steingold, an attorney and member of the local Democratic committee, are also collecting signatures.

Powell said the host of names so far should foster a creative, competitive campaign to the benefit of voters.

Damiani said all those names on the ballot might lead to a simple choice for many people.

"When they get down here and see six, seven or eight candidates for mayor, some of these folks are going to see a name they know and punch the button, maybe," he said.

Dave Forster, (757) 222-5563, dave.forster@pilotonline.com