Meyera Oberndorf: 'The mother of Virginia Beach'

Hopefully this is an obituary of sorts. At the moment she is in over her head and has to depend on her husband and Vice Mayor Jones, a rude individual, for guidance. Let's get someone with leadership skills.

Mayor Oberndorf is much like the rest of us; we have benefitted greatly from the natural assets of Virginia Beach and Hampton Roads and perhaps the best that can be said is that we have done our best not to make matters worse. Being in office as these natural advantages were asserted, it is hard to measure her ability to lead. Afterall, the true measure of a leader is performance in challenging times, and while we have had our challenges, the city and the region have prospered as the port, the military, and the overall economy have improved greatly. Did Meyera actually lead these institutions to grow and invest in Hampton Roads? Probably not, and to the degree that leadership was asserted on the city council, the hard lifting to create consensus and the conditions for prosperity were done by those behind the scenes. Perhaps it is time for her to accept the gratitude of the citizens of the Beach and leave the political scene at the best of all possible times.

I think what I'll remember most about her leadership is how she shot down regional cooperation and proclaimed Virginia Beach independent from the other surrounding cities, shouting out, we are better than you and we are going to compete against you. Hold your conferences in our hotels not theirs. Shop here not there. Remember that? We don't want our residents spending their money anywhere else but in Virginia Beach she said, (even though a lot of them earned their income in other cities). She gave no hope for a regional transportation system with Norfolk that could ease traffic and safe energy. Hopefully we'll have a mayor that is willing to work with other cities for the greater good of this region.

How embarrasing. I'm glad I live in Chesapeake. Sno-cones, t-shirt shops, and massively ugly hotels where there once was a beautiful beach. Quite a legacy.

I misspelled her name for a reason!!! She`s junk!

Your juvenile name-calling aside:

Unless you can prove otherwise, I will believe the city, the Navy and the newspaper...they all say that NO ONE has lost their home involuntarily to BRAC. If people were being kicked out of their homes, I am pretty sure the media would pick up on it.

If someone you know did, they sold of their own free will and probably made a pile of money.

Unfortunately, you appear to be someone who will make up stories to make your point. Look, if you can point to a policy or vote she has made that you disagree with, fine. Just don't resort to false statements.

She is the same mother of virginia beach who had the major concern that the (failed) buses on atlantic would have air conditioning. DUH! And her expert leadership question as to hoping they would have surf board racks. Wow! What a fantastic "leader". Sure can tell where her (mis)placed priorities are.

And the same mother of virginia beach expressed her expert concern over how awful the view from the 31st street hotel would be if we had natural gas rigs 25 miles off the coast of the beach. 25 miles. Who can see that far? I was truly amazed over her expert insight over how a natural gas spill would "foul" the coast line and cause a disruption of the tourist trade. DUH! It's a gas lady. There would be no "fouling" of your precious beaches. Again, where are her "motherly" priorities. Just ask her sons. Thompson and Ruffin.

I don't know what your talking about (seriously). Read my post I did name one. Unless you were there and understand the circumstances of how a person can be pushed into a involuntary loss of thier home under the BRAC and "Taxemdorf" alliance I would....well never mind that as I don't have to explain my self to you! Go back and kiss "Mother Taxemdorf for me. Esbar your right take a look around at all the negative posts. Not a day goes by that many of us "struggle" to make a living because of Taxemdorf and City Councils poor leadership and taxing us blind!! We don't get a "TAX" relief day so why should she get a "Get out Of Jail Card"....what relation are you to her anyway...probably one of the "Rich Builders" who has been paying her off. Yeah she may make only 30,000 a year salary but I'm sure she gets alot more elsewhere....gee I found another envelope full of money under my table after the last council meeting!!!!!

Did I read correctly that she earns only $30,000 a year. You get what you pay for.

And I quote, "She has done a good job of being an ambassador for the City, because she has worked at it full time"

Yeap, she's been a great ambassador. She went to the Mayor's Convention to discuss why we should not try to secure the boarders because the hotel industry here hires 60 to 80% illegals. A secure boarder would mean they would actually have to pay regular wages and that would put a kink in their bottom line.

Yeap, great job Heir Myra...

and c.s.... I'm assuming you are one that blames Oberndorf on everything. Pot/Kettle/Black. I never said we should re-elect meyera. I chose not to give my opinion as to that. All I asked was to have this ONE DAY (just one) to give the bashing a pause. And you can't do it. THAT is what I don't understand. THAT is what I want an explanation for. Perhaps I am missing something? Perhaps you are not all cold heartless people. May you just act that way for a reason? Explanations please.

I forget who it was that said leaders are like diapers: they should be changed REGULARLY! Virginia Beach is in bad need of an industrial strength changing. Thirty years, shoot, TEN years is too long for anyone to hold office in anyone place.

who the local news paper is going to endorse for mayor of V.B. Hmmmmm....
I guess next month the governor will be father of the state for Father's Day.?

Happy Mother's day to all mothers out there.

esbar, I guess you're one of those who blames Bush for everything. I recommend you look up BRAC. The president actually has little to do with BRAC and cannot change it.

Just not sure what. Maybe the mother of out of control over-development? The mother of severe traffic congestion? The mother of annual inflated property assessments? The mother of failing to control development around Oceana, causing the Navy to almost close the base? The mother of giving city property to developer buddies? The mother of ignoring voter's voices in favor of development? The mother of a failed sportsplex or soccer complex? But surly not the mother of virginia beach.

I think I saw a piping plover or some stupid bird nest on the oceanfront....close it down NOW!!!!!

Poeple please, don't stop complaining about our mayor. She's the best one the Tidewater Builders Assoc can afford. She does almost nothing for a average citizen of Virginia Beach, but she never says NO to the TBA.

I have asked you this in several comment posts, yet you ignore me every time.

Cite just ONE EXAMPLE of anyone involuntarily losing their home in Virginia Beach because of BRAC. Otherwise, stop crying wolf.

Meyera is not to blame for anything. For all the morons who slept through high school Government class, the Mayor has just one vote on City Council. Her primary function is to chair the meetings. The rest of her duties are largely ceremonial. She has done a good job of being an ambassador for the City, because she has worked at it full time. She is not just another lawyer/politician who performs her mayoral duties in her spare time. She will accomodate most any request for an appearance, if her schedule will allow. How many other HR mayors do that? You don't like BRAC decisions, call your Congressman.

Wow. No wonder she stays elected. And assume [sic] when I spell her name. Im sure she's a good mother but I feel no obligation to wish her happy mother's day as she is not my mother and Virginia Beach doesnt need a mother. Virginia Beach needs leadership and the will to listen to the people.

20 years is too long for anyone one good or bad to be an elected official. For your concideration, Ted Kennedy.

you guys could at least spell her name correctly. I've never encountered such rude/inconsiderate people in all my life. Thank goodness you DON'T live here now! Further, it was not our mayor who asked BRAC to take away your mom's house (for which I am sure you received more than just compensation), but our wonderful President Bush. Hmm... as much as I don't like Bush, I think I would have the common decency to wish him a Happy Father's Day next month! Why? Because I am carbon-based and not a cold heartless person like many of you. ONE MORE TIME... HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

NOT!! Va Beach oceanfront used to be alive, people places, great charter fleet. It all sucks now! Yes I lived there, work in the fleet for 3 yrs. I only go back now to see the guys in the tackle shop. I take my kids up there and show them the oceanfront. They asked me why anyone would live there now? I tell them I never would! Thank you Myra!!!

I asked for a day, possibly a week, and I couldn't even get one hour. You people disgust me! Is she perfect? No, but then those of you with negative comments obviously are not either; you can't even think positively for one day. How sad is that? I'm going to try this again: HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

All Hail Meya, All Hail Meya.

It is said that people get the government they deserve.

Mothers day or not my mother has no home as Taxemdorf took it for BRAC!!! The only thing I will remember is to Vote her out come election day. The little good she has done will never compare to the "bad" things she has done to this city and hard working people. She is the opposite of "Robin Hood" the Mayor steals from the "Poor" and gives to the "Rich" Builders and Hotel Owners.

Thank you. That was a beautiful piece. I hope that those who constantly criticize her take at least this one day (perhaps one week even?) to put aside those differences and realize what good she has done over the past several decades. Happy Mother's Day, everyone!

Many may serve but how many could lead for 32 years? Mayor Meyera is beyond compare!

I've known Mayor Oberndorf and her family for 25+ years. Virginia Beach is lucky to have her.