Krasnoff wins mayor's race in Chesapeake

CHESAPEAKE

Alan Krasnoff, an 18-year veteran of the City Council running on a low-tax platform, was elected mayor Tuesday.

Krasnoff easily turned back fellow council member Rebecca Adams in a race that saw several other Republican-affiliated candidates earn seats on the council.

Krasnoff, who pulled in 12,541 votes to Adams' 10,880 votes, cast himself as the candidate who was most dedicated to lowering taxes.

Voter turnout in the mayor's race was about 18 percent.

Over the past year, Krasnoff clearly won favor with a fair-tax group angry after several years of rising property assessments that leveled off this year.

He also thanked more than 100 people gathered at a Republican celebration at Paradocks East Coast Grille.

"Oh my," Krasnoff said, after hugging and shaking hands with nearly everyone in his path. "I love you tonight."

Both Krasnoff and Adams said they hadn't planned to run until Mayor

Dalton Edge announced in January that he would not seek a second term.

Republican officials credit Krasnoff's victory to his energetic campaign.

He was "a pure ball of energy," said Chesapeake Republican Party Chairman Pete Burkhimer.

Some voters said they connected with Krasnoff's message of managed growth, lower taxes and serving the public.

Horticulturist Judy Ferguson said she chose him because of the personal connections he's forged with Chesapeake residents.

"He has, for the whole time he's been on council, done what the people have asked of him," Ferguson said.

Adams has been on the council since 2006. This was her second losing bid for mayor. The school principal fell to Edge by just 143 votes in 2004. She declined to comment late Tuesday.

The race involved candidates with two very different styles and voting records. At forums, the soft-spoken Adams gave measured and careful speeches. Krasnoff bounded from behind the lectern to be right in front of the audience, sometimes pausing to shake hands.

Adams, an independent who won an endorsement from the Chesapeake Democratic Party, voted last year for South Norfolk redevelopment projects such as Belharbour Station at SoNo and a massive proposed biodiesel plant.

Krasnoff voted against both projects, calling them bad deals.

He found himself in the minority on several key votes last year, including the vote to lower the real estate tax rate by five cents. Krasnoff wanted to drop the rate by 10 cents, winning him points with a group called the Chesapeake Citizens for Fair Real Estate Tax.

Both candidates' campaigns were heavily financed by individuals and businesses connected with real estate and development.

Krasnoff, who raised more money than Adams, spent at least $18,000 with a company that helped him conduct an aggressive direct-mail campaign. For one mailer, he used a 2004 school division directory to send targeted letters to school employees urging them to vote for him instead of Adams.

In another mailer, Krasnoff contended that Adams opposed a vote that could have led to tax relief for more senior citizens. "He tried to help," the mailer states. "She voted no."

Adams' supporters accused Krasnoff of conducting an unusually negative campaign by Chesapeake standards. Krasnoff denied that, saying he was just putting her record on display for voters.

Mike Saewitz, (757) 222-5207, mike.saewitz@pilotonline.com