Reward success for turnaround

The long-struggling city of Portsmouth can tie an anchor to its barnacle-covered inferiority complex and drop it in the Elizabeth River. After decades of false starts, false hopes and false promises, the city in South Hampton Roads facing the most challenges has reason for true confidence in its direction.

Much of the transformation has occurred in the past four years as a new governing majority on the City Council has made major investments in public schools, rehabilitated the city's credit rating and laid the foundation for economic growth in the city's historic downtown and beyond.

Portsmouth is still a long way from prosperity, as evidenced by the council's recent wrangling over how to meet the public's demand for property-tax relief and still fulfill basic obligations. But the days of borrowing money to meet the city's payroll appear, blessedly, to have drifted into the past.

Three people whose names will appear on the May 6 ballot - incumbents Steve Heretick, Elizabeth Psimas and Ray Smith Sr. - share a large part of the credit for the city's change in fortune.

Along with two-year council veteran Doug Smith, they've brought a degree of professionalism and prudence to municipal decision-making that has been sorely needed for years.

Among other things, they've helped raise teacher salaries to competitive levels; supported community policing efforts in Cradock that will soon be replicated in other neighborhoods; and pursued economic development such as the U.S. headquarters for the international coffeemaker Massimo Zanetti.

The new leadership also has tried to make the best of financial debacles inherited from prior councils, including the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and the nTelos Pavilion.

The council isn't free of its own blunders. Most notably, Ray Smith voted - against the advice of the city attorney and others - to deny a use permit for Friendship Temple, a move that violated the church's constitutional rights and cost taxpayers $1.5 million.

Still, voters can place their confidence in Smith, as well as Heretick and Psimas, for another four years. Individually and as a loose-knit coalition, they've helped make historic strides in rebuilding Portsmouth, and their priorities for the next four years include addressing long-neglected needs vital to the city's rebirth, such as raising salaries for public safety officers.

Among their challengers, several candidates stand out. Former Planning Commission Chairman Paige Cherry, in particular, offers an impressive critique of the council's successes and shortcomings. But he hasn't made a strong enough case for displacing the incumbents or the course they're on.

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On the School Board, progress also has been the story of the last four years. The incumbents on the May 6 ballot - Sheri Bailey, James Bridgeford, Elizabeth Daniels and Keith Nance Sr. - have supported a bulldog superintendent, David Stuckwisch, and helped boost school accreditation from 20 percent in 2004 to 80 percent today. Each deserves another term in office.

There are three other contenders for the fifth open seat on the board, including Portsmouth Reads founder Ned McCabe and 18-year-old Churchland High School graduate and Norfolk State student Ernest Knight.

But the candidacy of Costella Williams - a supervisor at the city's Behavioral Health Services Department with 25 years of experience - stands out, largely on the strength of her long civic record and her interest in conducting safety assessments at all city schools.

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In the race for mayor, the choices are less appealing.

The popular incumbent, James W. Holley III, is a shoo-in against his challenger, grassroots activist Martha Ann Creecy.

Holley, now 81, is no longer the forceful presence he once was. At this juncture in its history, Portsmouth needs far more than a ceremonial mayor who's quick with a joke and quick to praise the city. Creecy deserves thanks for providing voters a choice on May 6, but she doesn't offer a compelling alternative.

In his next term, we encourage Holley to keep doing what he does best - promote Portsmouth - but give greater attention to running focused, business-like council meetings. With a steadier hand at the helm, Holley can best help Portsmouth stay on its current course of progress.