PORTSMOUTH
Martha Ann Creecy slapped some bumper stickers with "mayor" on leftover yard signs from a failed council run in 2004 and picked up $25 donations here and there.
She got people she knew around the city to stick the signs on their lawns.
It almost worked.
On Tuesday, to the surprise of many city leaders and civic activists, Creecy almost unseated longtime Mayor James Holley. She lost by 202 votes, a margin that grew closer Wednesday than Tuesday night's preliminary results suggested.
"I thought it was going to be a slam-dunk," said James Overton, president of the Wilson Ward/Gosport Civic League, who considers Holley a personal friend.
The outcome, many said, was less an endorsement of Creecy, a 63-year-old civic activist who grew up in Portsmouth, than a desire for change.
"There was no populist uprising in support of Martha Ann Creecy," said Councilman Steve Heretick, who beat Creecy in 2004 and was re-elected Tuesday night.
"I don't see it as much as a vote in favor of Martha Ann as much as a vote that the mayor has served honorably, but suggesting that he reconsider a future course."
Had someone with more political experience challenged Holley, Heretick said, Portsmouth might have elected a different mayor. Holley, a retired dentist and civil rights leader known for attending dozens of local events each week,
has been mayor since 1996 and previously had run unopposed since he took office.
Many, including current council members, have felt they could not run against Holley.
While many were stunned by the election results, Creecy wasn't.
Sitting in a sun-filled office above her garage Wednesday on Dinwiddie Street, the lighting designer recalled how supporters at The Flagship Restaurant on Tuesday night "went nuts for about a minute and a half" when early returns said she had collected 51 percent of the vote.
From the moment Creecy announced she planned to challenge Holley, she said she heard nothing but encouragement. Strangers called asking for signs to post in their neighborhoods, she said. Her campaign was all about a change in leadership, she said.
"I didn't know all the 5,000 people," she said. "But I think some of those votes were definitely for change. But the ones from people who know me and have worked with me know I'm a leader."
Creecy has no other political aspirations, she said. And no intention to run again.
"This was the right time to do it," she said.
She was helped by the fact that she grew up in Portsmouth, she said. Her work on a neighborhood task force, with civic leagues and city commissions gave her an edge, she said. She's also frequently appeared at council meetings to criticize the city on neighborhood issues, such as failing to crack down on code enforcement violations.
"If her name was not completely a household name, by the same token, she's touched a lot of folks - some negatively, some positively," said Mark Geduldig-Yatrofsky, who served as Creecy's treasurer.
Creecy is also proud of running a grass-roots campaign. She isn't ashamed she raised just $2,765 from contributors who typically gave less than $100 each. She prevailed over Holley - who is 81 and raised nearly $16,000 - in many precincts north of High Street, in Churchland and in Cradock.
Holley, meanwhile, dominated the race in high-voter precincts in Cavalier Manor and Douglass Park.
Estella Bond, president of the Cedar Point Civic League, said about 90 percent of people in her neighborhood wanted Holley out.
"They just felt like we needed new blood, fresh ideas," Bond said.
Joe Wright, a longtime leader in Cavalier Manor, said he saw the vote as a combination of the mayor getting older and some people wanting a change.
"If she had won, she probably would have been a good mayor," Wright said.
Overton said he saw the vote as "sort of a message sent to Dr. Holley."
"Even though he'll take the win," Overton said, "some people are not pleased with the way things are going."
Heretick and Creecy said the results foreshadow something else - a very crowded race for mayor in four years.
Jen McCaffery, (757) 446-2627, jen.mccaffery@pilotonline.com
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You tried Martha
That is more than Heretick did. He states that someone with more political experience could have won. Well he has had plenty of campaign experience but LOST two elections (Commenwealth Attorney and State Senate). I'm sure he will be one of the "crowded field" in 2012. I guess he was afraid to go up against the Mayor for Life. I mean after he spent 152 million on Welfare during his tenure I guess he figured the demographics of the city werrn't right (45 to 55). News flash Steve, you keep spending that kind of money to bring in more murdering gang bangers and if you are lucky, you may get a job as a valet parking attendant at the Lucas hotel. BTW you only won re-election yourself by 79 votes over Cherry so I wouldn't exactly call that a mandate from the people about the job you did the last four years.
Helloooo Portsmouth
There are a couple of things that this article fails to mention… First of all I think it’s a definite indication of the level of dissatisfaction amongst the Portsmouth citizens about what is going on in City Hall.
Also for the record; Ms Creecy had only two months or less to prepare for this election. I think had she started earlier, collected more money and put her name out there earlier she would have nailed this election down. This WAS a populist uprising and people do want change btw.
A lot of people stayed home. I truly believe that people in Portsmouth don’t have a lot of faith in their local government. I know I don’t. Unfortunately that has tranlated into the attitude of “why should I even bother to vote?”
I’d like to know where Mr Holley’s campaign funds came from and how this is going to translate into future “planned projects” for the City of Portsmouth. Needless to say; I’ll be keeping an eye on the news waiting for another episode of Portsmouth Follies.
awe come on chesschamp.....
at least Holley has nice suits!
Vote for Holley
We didn't vote for Creecy mainly because while she served on CAR2 she essentially closed her mind to citizen complaints and disgruntlement at the inflexibility of the CAR and their refusal to accept change and consider some modern changes to the restoration of the homes in the historic districts. Because CAR refused to be flexible the city coucil was forced to override the CAR and listen to the constituents and make changes that reversed many years of arrogance and ignorance at the CAR. With the changes made in the CAR guidelines homeowners have the ability to improve and maintain their properties and use new products wothout affecting the overall quality. Unfortunately the city also re-elected Whitehurst, a narrowminded man when it comes to the districts. I'm glad the changes were made before he returned. Holley always supported making it easier for the owners to repair and maintain. That's why we voted for him.
Interesting sources
This article quotes Creecy and Heretick, who is a friend of Holley. Is Holley to old too intelligently understand and answer interview questions? I have nothing against Holley, but it seems he needs a lot of people to prop him up and support him, even in mundane tasks such as driving. Is it healthy for a city to have such a leader?
Please don't give up Ms. Creecy
My compliments to Ms. Creecy & all non-incumbent candidates (except Mr. Whitehurst) for their efforts to bring REAL change to Portsmouth - I just wish Ms Creecy promoted herself (post more campaign signs & meet-greet voters) around the Churchland area since it was bombarded by incompetent incumbent signs. I'm sure many non-crony candidates will eventually get elected when residents get to know you all personally.
And it's sad for anyone to think the current Mayor-City Council-School Board members have been doing a good job these days with the recent news of over-inflated property assessments, public safety concerns, misuse of city vehicles & budget monies, city funding of private consultant companies, & City Council members promoting private interests (go ask Mr. Whitehurst & Ms. Lucas about that one) over public concerns. This has been going on since the early 1990s & people are still hoping for improvements? People need to start waking up to reality...
too late
Portsmouth is already embarassed by Holley. I can't believe he was elected again. When will we learn?
David-73
Maybe the City can get E. Psimas to drive his "HONOR" around. She doesn't appear to do anything but drink coffee on the corner of Water and High Street.
it's a shame....
she didn't win. I think she'd make a good mayor for Portsmouth. Holley either can't or won't make the changes Portsmouth is starving for to progress.
Stand by Virginia Beach Council... Your Next
Good by TaxenDorf.
Election results
According to rough figures, Martha Ann had about 5300 votes, and Mayor Holley had about 5500 votes. The good news is that 10,800 people voted. The bad news is that the population of Portsmouth is about 110,000. Even with very generous allowances for those under 18, are we to be comforted knowing that only 10% of the city is exercising the rights they hold as citizens?
MAYOR RESULTS
Mayor Holley has done a good job promoting Portsmouth over the years and I congratulate him. I also congratulate Mrs. Creasy for her good race and giving the citizens of Portsmouth a choice. As a 54 year resident of Portsmouth, my biggest concern is, with recent developements concerning Mayor Holley running Council meetings and wrecking cars, I am affraid before this 4 year term is over, he will embarrase Portsmouth somewhere along the line. I hope I am wrong.
It would be nice to know the total turn out of voters.
It appears as though the city left it up to Cavalier Manor and Douglass Park to decide the mayor. People gripe and complain but then don't go to the polls and make their voices be heard. Just think, if only 203 people out of all of Portsmouth would have taken the ten minutes or so to vote, their city could start making changes. Portsmouth would have a lot to offer and could be a beautiful city, but there has to be a change from the same old path. The crime in P-town needs to be contained. The waste of tax dollars on nice to have projects over neccessary infrastructure needs to be controled. Wasteful pet projects need to be stopped. If you increase the quality of your schools and your law enforcement, you attract and maintain better citizens. Using Cradock as an example, if the area wasn't so crime ridden, it would be a beautiful place to live and raise a family. Cradock has a great location and has lots to offer. Instead the city government has allowed it to become a crime ridden and unsafe area. Increase teachers, police and fire dept salaries and you'll solve a lot of problems.
I don't know Martha Creecy....
....but I definitely voted for her! I strongly support a change in city government and was hoping we could start at the top of the heap by ousting Mayor Holley. Unfortunately for all the citizens that actually got off their butts and voted because they too want change it didn't happen. Apathy by those that don't care and therefore didn't go out and vote allowed the same old tired city government to remain in place. It's a sad state of affairs in this city, almost to the point of pathetic!