VIRGINIA BEACH
Will Sessoms has kicked his campaign to become mayor into super-drive, ignoring the traditional Labor Day starting date to launch his advertising war.
In an effort to gain name recognition against a five-term incumbent, Sessoms, a bank president, unleashed $44,690 worth of television commercials this weekend. His ads are to run on CNN, Fox News, Headline News, The Weather Channel, MSNBC and the three major networks through Sept. 7. Commercials also will air during the Oprah show the Friday after each convention, according to records kept by the media outlets.
Sessoms' supporters have also put up signs throughout the city, and on waterfront homes along the Lynnhaven River to reach boaters, said Dave Iwans, president of DIA Inc., the public relations firm that is working on the Sessoms' campaign.
"Sessoms is going to be omnipresent," Iwans said.
The Sessoms camp hopes to increase the former vice mayor's name recognition and grab the attention of voters watching coverage of the Democratic and Republican conventions over the next two weeks, Iwans said.
Sessoms, who has raised the most money in the city, with $428,112, according to the latest finance reports, will try to get the most exposure this week. But the three other mayoral candidates, including incumbent Meyera Obern-dorf, are also working to get their names out.
Oberndorf held her first formal fundraiser last weekend, with U.S. Congressman Bobby Scott. Oberndorf hopes to build on the $22,870 she has raised - about half as much as Sessoms is spending on his initial TV campaign.
The mayor, who raised just over $101,000 in her run for office four years ago, said she may buy television time, but acknowledged that her budget is limited. She said she'll rely on gatherings with voters over coffee and neighborhood meetings.
"My ID is very high, out in Virginia Beach, but also in the region," she said. "I assume he's going to try and purchase that with his ads."
Mayoral candidate John Moss, a former councilman, said he plans to wait until after Labor Day before putting up large signs at key and popular locations. He doubts that voters are paying attention right now.
"My signs are in the garage," said Moss, who has raised $7,999.
Scott Taylor, a former Navy SEAL who runs a real-estate development firm, also is starting with a low-key approach to his run for mayor. He has wrapped a truck with his advertisement and is attending events, such as a motorcycle rally for veterans and the East Coast Surfing Championships, said Allen Fabijan, Taylor's spokesman.
Taylor, who has raised $19,785, is waiting for some key donors to contribute before launching into the more intense advertising campaign at the end of September or in October, Fabijan said.
Even then, it may be hard to compete with Sessoms. He already has put down $6,000 for two commercial spots during the Washington Redskins' game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on ESPN the Monday night before the elections.
Deirdre Fernandes, (757) 222-5121, deirdre.fernandes@pilotonline.com
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Oh, Britt
How can we "disagree" on anything when many of you VBTA folks resort to snide, smarmy, generic, cookie-cutter talking points, continually failing to provide specific grievances beyond your knee-jerk and cliched disdain for government "taxing and spending?"
Which taxes? What spending? And what about them? What are your workable solutions? Pragmatic proposals? Where are you willing to compromise and with whom? Where are your specifics? What is your platform?
Light on specifics and heavy on negative rhetoric, you guys are probably headed toward defeat once again in November. Perhaps not because you are wrong but because you are seemingly incapable of explaining to the public--in specific and understandable terms--that for which you stand, that in which you believe.
Baobabs727
Sir or Madam as the case may be, I do not regard you or others I disagree with as morons. We merely disagree.
I wouldn't say "grand conspiracy" but, I will stipulate that MOTIVATED actions based on enhanced revenue were taken. Plans to stimulate "Tax Efficient" growth(a direct quote) have been in the papers. This is no secret and illustrates a willingness to act. The announcement of plans for "work force" & "affordable" housing(amounting to insulting welfare with strings attached)targeted for public sector employees is an acknowledgement that these public servants are being priced out of the area. Revenue neutrality is not a pipe dream if council is willing. As to the exact rate, I'd refer you to city staff or the VBTA.
Britt
I'll bet you believe that property values were inflated by way of some grand government conspiracy.
Everybody knows that revenue neutrality is a pipe dream. But just for a laugh, kindly inform the rest of us tax-and-spend morons of exactly what rate would be needed to achieve this utopian dream of yours?
aalto
No "best candidate" (read: loser) ever "made" the council do anything. Those who are actually elected are the ones who set the agenda. In fact, Council lowered the rate based on specific budget projections.
And since you are the one who started the mud-throwing (absent any factual basis or substantiating evidence), shouldn't you be the one indicating for which "tax" (I suppose you meant to say "increase?") Meyera did vote?
Rather than comparing ego
Rather than comparing ego sizes on the internet, perhaps the citizens of VB should demand a debate and open forum with the candidates so that concerns can be addressed. I suspect that Scott Taylor and John Moss would attend... I'm not familiar enough with Will Sessoms to say. Our current mayor has a tendency to cancel last minute, but I'd love to see her at a debate if she'd show up.
Baboabs
So what your saying is since the taxpayer revolt lead by the best choice for Mayor forced the VB council to lower taxes in the past few years, the over-taxiation of the previous 20 years is forgiven?
Tell me which tax the current mayor has not voted for?
baobabs
Re: "tax-em-dorf"
You'll find in these boards that many people are incapable of presenting a logical fact-based argument without resorting to snide comments, personal insults, clever jabs, or just plain rude behavior.
In fact, many simply leave the facts out completely, allowing more room for the nonsense.
Those signs are still up......
A sign may have been removed from Mr. Bailey's neighborhood but, not elsewhere. I'm not sure they are all on private property either.
As for "favorble" property taxes in VB, that's a joke. If the property values skyrocket like the last couple years and you lower the percentage, YOU STILL end up PAYING MORE unless the rate is dropped to the point of being revenue neutral which it has NOT! Comparing VB rates to other localities isn't a poper analogy. Firstly, value increases may not be the same and a good deal of reductions should be credited to John Moss and the VBTA for putting political pressure on council.
aalto
The Real Estate Taxation rate in Va. Beach has been reduced to levels not seen in a generation. Additionally, the current rate compares favorably to that of every Hampton Roads municipality, I do believe. So, I'm not sure of what you speak re: "Tax-em-dorf?"
But it's free
With all the "free" publicity tax-em-dorf and sessoms receives from the obviously biased pilot, why would they need to spend any money?
In a related story ...
Early this morning a newer model Ford Thuderbird convertible was spotted leaving Mr. Bailey's neighborhood. Stacked in the back seat were large blue-green signs ... a Barack Obama bumber sticker was observed on the rear bumper - it had the word "CHANGE" crossed out ... (just kidding!)
Signs Gone
This morning I see the big ugly signs are gone from my street. Seems the word has reached those folks and they do want to comply with the City Code...
Will Sessoms is our man!
I'm born and raised in Virginia Beach/ Princess Anne County and I think IT'S TIME FOR A CHANGE!!! Meyera has done a commendable job, but I think her time is up and her vision for this city (the largest city in VA) is stale and OLD!!! It's time to embrace a real businessman with real business sense. Sorry Meyera, and God bless you for your service, but we need more than a civic league leader WE NEED A MAYOR! Vote Will 2008.
Mayor Moss - I like the sound of that!
Mayor Moss - that is a welcome sound. For too many decades our city government has ignored the needs of the residents and catered to the desires of developers, bankers, builders, big law firms, and the Chamber of Commerce/Hampton Roads Partnership lobby. The result? The oceanfront and Town Center business folks "wins", the residents get stuck with the bills - and over a BILLION DOLLARS in debt. Under Mayor Oberndorf and Vice Mayor Jones leadership our city supported creating unconstitutional regional taxing authority. John Moss and others told the city council the truth about the HRTA - just like the 31st street hotel - they ignored the citizens and did what their business pals wanted. Folks, they ignored the law and they ignored the voters. Will Sessoms is simply more of the same.
Vote for John Moss!!
John Moss has a positive track record. His positions have always been to protect the taxpayer. That is why he is chairman and co-founder of the Virginia Beach TAXPAYERS Alliance. Moss will act as a fiscally responsible steward. Sessoms will likely vote to spend your tax dollars on bloated, massive, and unwanted megaprojects instead of the core responsibilities the city actually does have. This is NOT Sim City, this is real money and real lives. Keep the predators out, elect John Moss!
Vote Out Big Money
Virginia Beach is a BIG city that has been ravaged by 'tax and spend' politicians. I have lived here for the last 12 years (plus 1.5 years when I lived here as a kid '81-83'; went to Brandon Jr HS). I have a stake in this city! I have seen the green space decline dramatically under our current Mayor's 'stewardship'. Ms. Oberndorf represents the "Business-as Usual", developer-friendly/payback garbage this city does not want or need any more. If we let her keep on, this entire city will be nothing but strip malls and $400K+ housing.
Also, this City Council has repeatedly ignored the PEOPLE'S WILL. It's time we removed the entire incumbant, fat-cat, kick-back, lot of them!
Mr Sessoms is part of the same cloth as the Mayor (as evidenced by his tenure on the City Council). He must be booted as well. Please, we must bring in a person (and a coucil) who will just let this city be, and not blow our tax dollars
Meyera is unstoppable. Accept it and move on (or just move).
Sorry, folks. Dreams die hard, but die they will. And soon.
Sessoms will not prevail, for his campaign is based on a "I'm not her" theme. That's simply not enough to get it done this election, or in any election, for any office, anywhere in the land. Just look at what happened to Kerry.
There is no "there there" with Will, and folks will see right through his lame attempt to buy votes via these massive fundraising efforts.
In tough economic times such as these, middle-class Team Meyera is far more appealing to the regular folks than is fair-haired Will and his business/country club buddies. That's a fact, and you know it.
Indeed, Meyera will likely CRUSH him in the end, and the disgruntled minority will just have to whine and complain for 4 more years.
Why Scott Taylor for Mayor?
Everyone in Hampton Roads needs to know the difference between Politicians running for Mayor of Virginia Beach,
...and People who care about people.
In 2001 after 9-11, I transferred to SEAL Team 4 from San Diego, CA. I joined a platoon with a number of spirited personalities and charged up overachievers.
One of them was Scott Taylor.
As time progressed, I decided to purchase my first home and was assisted in my search by Scott, who was building his real estate business part time.
Scott made several key choices with perfect timing that allowed me to find , and secure a contract on, a brand new construction, just minutes before another buyer walked into the same office determined to buy it.
I was thrilled!
Enter the military pay system.
Before I was able to close, my Navy pay was misprocessed and I received two short paychecks...one for $24...the second for $27.
This obviously caused me to use m
Negative again: are you ever going to learn...
Sorry but that negative response only serves to prove my point once again. Thank you.
Sorry, Bill
Isn't there another church you can pick on, Bill? I'm not working for or with any mayoral candidate. And I value the first amendment, Bill, more than a city code. Do you? Freedom of speech. Freedom of Assembly. Freedom of religion...oops, nevermind. Forget I asked.
I'm sorry
I'm man enough to admit that picking on Sessoms over the error in City Code is wrong. To Will: I'm sorry that I read the code and didn’t know it didn’t match state law. Who can you trust when you can’t trust your own government? Anyway, I still do not believe he is worthy of returning to office in City Hall but I blamed him when it wasn’t his fault. BTW: Those signs are still butt ugly.
And to Brian: Your defense of a violation of the City Code even if it never actually took place is still reprehensible and continues to speak volumes about you. That is but one reason I stopped visiting the other web site you frequently post on. Frankly, I hate the negative childish spin you always post. It is not worth my time. You can spin yourself into the ground waiting for me to issue an apology to you because it isn't necessary. I'll wait for you to figure out that being negative never helps unless you happen to be Carl Rove
Code talk = sounds like another Moss red herring
We're approaching the height of the political season. If this is all you can complain about, you're missing the point.
But since some of you persist, you might want to look again at those Sessoms signs. All the ones I've seen so far--and there indeed seem to be hundreds, if not thousands of them out there now--are on private property. As such, they are protected free speech, no different in the eyes of the law than you posting a political sign on your front lawn. It's the signs that will likely soon crop up on public property--e.g. highway medians, etc.--that are the target of the code. The city attorney's not going to waste time prosecuting a technical code violation that 1) may not even apply to these signs and 2) has no higher court affirmation.
Why not instead ask the candidates WHAT they plan to do and HOW they're going to do the things they're promising (especially Mr Moss, whose record is lon
Not about Bill but.....
Regrettably Brian, Mr. Bailey is in fact quite a man..... Whether or not he, or anyone else for that matter, agrees with your political position is but one right he spent a good part of his life defending..... for all of us.
When you've spent twenty years of your life serving our Country in the Armed Forces and darn near another twenty serving the citizens of Chesapeake and Virginia Beach, then I'll listen to ya.
I'd advise you not to enter into a character contest with Mr. Bailey as I sincerely think you're not qualified to run in that race Sir.
It's no secret you're employed in the industry of helping to get people elected, and I distinctly recall you once running a "scam" topic on Talknet, just to get rises out of everyone for the benefit of gauging their responses.....for your employer/candidate.
So.... is it not possible that the "employee" Brian is typing once again?
How will the newly elected Mayor spend your money?
With $428,112.00 in campaign contributions the question has to become just who or what big business, does this bankster, Will Sessoms, have in his pocket? It is obvious that Sessoms does not have a problem spending money, at least not other people’s money. It also seems to me the pilot writers already have this race wrapped-up. Isn’t the media to be unbiased? Yes, I am certain they are. Merriam Webster Dictionary defines Unbiased as free from bias; especially: free from all prejudice and favoritism: eminently fair. Isn’t the public, not the press, to decide who will be mayor of Virginia Beach? Furthermore, enough of Meyera Overspend. My choice is John Moss; John Moss is the only taxpayers’ choice for mayor of The Beach. If you do not know who he is, become an informed voter and go to his website to read about him and his values.
Here's positive
I'm positive Bill Bailey lied about me, and he still isn't man enough to admit it.
Waiting for you
Brian: Frankly I've been waiting for you to say something positive in any type of election race for several years. I don’t believe I’m likely to see that happen in the near future. I guess I'll be "baitingly waiting" for you to figure out that your negative attitude and comments do not help your candidates or clients to win the election.
As for this article, you can spin the story and post anyway you like it but you have to admit that your willingness to ignore that VB City Code and then excuse the violation as “it is unenforceable” speaks volumes about you and Sessoms… I may have screwed up the language but I’m for enforcing and following the laws even if they are unenforceable in your eyes… It seems clear that Sessoms & you could care less about our laws in VB.
Will Sessoms for Mayor
People please, quit the guttersnipping. Stick to the facts. What's important is not Will's signs, not who's a republican, democrat or libratarian. What is important is what Will Sessoms is all about. And he is not about doing right by the residents of Virginia Beach. He is not a fiscially responsible representative of the people of this city. Ask yourselves, why was he never mayor previously? As much as people have been sick of Meyera over the past several years, one would think if ole' Will was so great, people would have remembered such a fact and would have brought him into the fold and Meyera out. Didn't happen. People this is a sad sad situation for us all. He's got the money, and as we all have heard, money talks, even if it is all bulls..... Fact remains, it's going to take quite an effort for John Moss, but I for one will do what I can for him. He's a brilliant man, trustworthy and forthright. A m
Brewster's millions had it right.......LOL
Richard Pryor had the best line in the movie..... VOTE NONE OF THE ABOVE!! ROFL!!
Moss had his time on Council and was at best ineffective.....
Sessoms was effective...... if you're a developer.
20 years under the same person, no matter who it is, is deplorable for a City with the growth that Virginia Beach has shown.
NONE OF THE ABOVE..... ROFL!!
Campaign Signs Correction
Correction: The following is not correct.
A Zoning official informed me late this afternoon that the information on the City Website concerning campaign signs is not correct. He stated that the current city code is not in compliance with Federal Election law and has not been updated. There is not a 60 day window to post campaign signs.
Original Post:
The Sessom's campaign has erected illegal signs all over the City of Virginia Beach. He is allowed only 60 days before the election. Please read the City Code that follows. Virginia Beach Zoning would be the city office to file a complaint.
Sec. 211. Signs permitted in all districts.
(e)Political campaign signs. Signs announcing candidates seeking public political office and other data pertinent thereto shall be permitted up to a total area of eight (8) square feet for each premises in a residential zoned and thirty-two (32) square feet in a
So many years of Meyera
After so many years of having the same mayor and seeing how she has ignored moderate income citizens of Virginia Beach, it is definitely time for a change in leadership. Sessoms will only bring more of the same but of a different brand. Moss seems like the best bet to me, and I don't care how underfunded his campaign is.