Beach mayoral challenger Sessoms hits fundraising goal

To unseat an incumbent who has served too long takes significant resources to counter the past years of free exposure and publicity and just showing up at events. But the Mayor's race is about competent and effective leadership, not about popularity. Will Sessoms has shown that he can develop consensus within the city council for decisive and effective action to stimulate economic development that creates jobs and adds to the commercial tax base, thereby reducing demand on the residential tax base. We need that leadership now more than ever. He may not kiss as many babies nor show up at as many community events to increase his personal popularity, but he will work hard and smart for us. Competent leadership is what we need most, and Sessoms is the most qualified to deliver that right now.

The real story should be how 3 of the canidates raised way more money then they had before. Everyone knows Sessoms has money, that is not news!! Sessoms is not change, he is the same!! I do agree with many of the comments that it is a waste of 1/2 million dollars, if you need that much money, there is a problem. You can't buy the position. The current mayor has done a lot of good, but it is time to pass the torch. Times have changed and we need someone who is up w/the current world and technology. I'm looking for positive attitude, an uplifting, motivated, big picture person. Taylor is the only one that fits the bill.

Rock solid on the Bad Religion reference there.
Here's another fitting line (or 3):

"The elected are such willing partners, look who's buying all the tickets to the game. Development wants, development gets, it's official. Development wants this neighborhood gone so the city just wants the same."

Our current mayor will win this one. It does not matter how the rest finish. There is only one job to fill. Good luck to all candidates.

My guess is they both will have the same success.

I happen to like Meyera Oberndorf and will vote for her as long as she wants to be mayor. My daughter lives in Larchmont in Norfolk and cannot get city agencies to be responsive to her concerns. Being a resident of Va. Beach I can call with a problem and am able to access real people who listen and take care of the problem. I believe this is due to Meyera Oberndorf's leadership. In my opinion, If it ain't broke don't fix it.

Informed voters know from his past performance that John Moss' position is defined by his opposition to things rather than his leadership. Has he ever stood FOR anything but complaining about the lowest tax rates in the region? Was he able to win over other members of council?

Moss pledged to cut costs when he was on council. He couldn't find a pot of gold in the city budget then, and there's no reason to believe he will now.

The "dancing bear" council members of yore may have had seemed arrogant. But they created things that are all (save the Sportsplex) meeting their revenue goals and providing service to residents and to the visitors who subsidize our budget.

Mr. Greenmun is right that our city and region face many critical challenges. But we will never find solutions by looking backwards and complaining.

I will not interfere w/ Reid Greenum's beleif, but do note he is adamantly against light rail. Moss may be a step backwards. From outside of the box it is obvious Obendorf is your only real choice for a full time mayor. Warts and all...

Note to self - spell check these post before hitting the "post comment" button.

Friends, our city has tough times ahead. We need a intelligent and capable individual with strong moral character and ehtical values. John Moss is that person. Enough is enogh with the developers and bankers running our city into the ground. We need John Moss as our next Mayor. John Moss has been fighting to lower our tax rate for years. He has worked to offer a better stragey for our city budgeting process. He has recommended many specific cuts that can lower city spending in non-required activities. Taylor is a DEVELOPER. Sessoms is a BANKER that hangs with DEVELPERS. Meyera, well, she is Meyra - you know what that means. Only John Moss makes sense for taxpayers and the residents of Virginia Beach.

Did the people of Va beach really want to turn thier beach over to tourists for financial gain of busineeses, lose their casual driving to mass multitudes that clog the normal movement?

What was wrong with the wonderful little beach community Va Beach was. Public acces to the beach, mom and pop stores, free to walk and not mobbed by drunk, impolite youngsters, etc...?

The elitists wanted to be like big cities with art and fetivals. Those are fine, but not mandatory for an enjoyable life. I suspect they really need a lesson in self esteem. It doesn't matter what others do or the big grand standing they put on with ballets, festivals, etc... Let the town support what it can and enjoy it. If it can't support anything, that's fine. It's about the people coming together, not what the mayor or council puts on to put on a great show to make someone feel good about themselves.

The greedy wanted money and they got it....along with mass hoards of people clogging the streets, the tunnel, and the rise in crime that followed, along with lack of parking to enjoy our natural resource, the beach. It's for tourists only now. Does a person really need to pay to park to enjoy what God provid

Time for a new Mayor... Sessoms or Moss.

No Meyera

well whoever wins- you need to think about the LOCALS- the ones that pay your taxes, saleries, etc... Right now all the mayor & city council care about is the tourist & could care less about the people that live here. yeah there are good things about VB, just as there are bad. First of all- lets do something about the crime at the Oceanfront!! now that the tourist are gone, locals are on their own. I know from personal expereince that the crime rate is unreal down thre, but you don't hear about it- they wanted it swept under the rug so nobody will hear about it- can't have toursit not come here. that's all this city cares about- as far as city goverment- VB is only Atlantic avenue. so hopefully the "next" mayor will finally put the residents first... How many people have to be robbed, stabbed, raped, murdered there before they do something about it? go down there after 9pm & tell me if you feel truly safe???? think about it.

that someone raises one half a million dollars to win a position that doesn't pay close to that. This isn't a game of whoever has the most toys wins. The fact that he is bragging about the amount of money he has raised makes me sick. I don't even know who he is, but he's not getting my vote...I'm not a fan of arrogance.

Moss is the only choice. Period.

I feel like a lone wolf here, everyone wants to get rid of Meyera. Do I think she has been in office too long? Well, she keeps winning elections. Since she has been Mayor, she has taken an office that was a part time position and turned it into a full time job doing so much for our wonderful city; she is everywhere and speaks to everyone. Virginia Beach is on the national and international map due in large part to the hard work she has put in, constantly promoting Virginia Beach. Okay, think back to her first election and now come forward to today and as you do, picture our town and how it has changed and grown and be glad we had a Meyera Oberndorf to bring us to this point.

Most people actually like Town Center...that is why you see so many people there during the day and night. Plus it makes money for the city...I really don't hold that against Sessoms.

My take on the excessive amount of money that Sessoms has raised is that it is going to hurt him much more than help him. He has out-raised Meyera, but she is still campaigning everywhere and not hiding behind PR staff.

Taylor is a nice young guy, but is not ready to be mayor. Moss is not even a contender as I am sure even he knows.

I'm calling this in this order:
1st Place: Meyera
2nd Place: Sessoms
3rd Place: Taylor
4th Place: Moss

It seems most people who run for Mayor in Virginia Beach are all in the builders pockets. There are so many homes, apartments and businesses empty around town, but they still insist on building. Who's buying all these homes? The roads cannot accommodate the traffic as it is now. Downtown Virginia Beach is a good example of their not thinking ahead. Just build, build, build. They took a trailer park away from low income families and can't complete building on the property for lack of buyers. We don't need more people in Virginia Beach. It's crowded enough! Soon there will be gridlock on the interstates! Take care of what you have already and stop building!!!!!

look at the banking and mortgage industry today. Those of you who are having difficulties just drive by your mortgage rep or banks business or home and look at the cars.

Who do you think they are looking to help? You or them?

You do not even understand being in a developers pocket until you elect someone who finances them.

Just by reading who contributed says it all. He is all for the developers and not for the citizens. They are truly going to get the best they can buy!!!

I agree get rid of Orbendorf, but how?? We have too many people running against her AGAIN!! So fellow citizens of Virginia Beach, how do we rid ourselves of the troll?? She has won the last two times because of the split ballot, and it will happen again!!! Somebody has to step down!!! I can’t understand how I see this, yet all these "educated men" don’t. But we don’t need three people running against her! We don’t need a former council member, since we are trying to get rid of most of them too! Stand behind one person, and I say Moss-maybe then we can win!!!!

Sessoms - He is trying to buy position.
Meyera - She has as been a great mayor, but should realized it is time for new ideas and leadership.
Moss - Always says he want to say he wants to cut taxes, but never hear anything specific. Does he want to cut teachers pay, police officers pay, city employees pay?

Is this the best candidates willing to serve?

"Ten million dollars on a loosing campaign, 20 million starving and writhing in pain." Half a million dollars to get your name on a ballot so the buds down at the yacht club and the other private club can vote for you? The proles don't want some banker in the pockets of the developers. Waste of half a million dollars.

This is to the previous posts. You pay so much taxes but don't see where it is going? Are you kidding me? Have any of you ever lived outside of VB? Why don't you do some research before you spout such non-sense. VB has been rated as one of the best cities in the US for the past 5 years, it has one of the best school systems in the entire state of VA, it has the lowest real estate tax rate out of all of the local cities, it has more parks, recreation centers and beaches, so what in the world are you talking about. The Town Center has brought in jobs, restaurants, an incredible theatre, and tons of revenue in taxes. You state, vote for no-one? or RENO? What do you propose. Should we go back to horse and buggy? Give me a break and get a clue.

There is nothing new about this local political contest since most of them are bought and paid for by local wealthy developers, builders, realtors. The county I live in is controlled by developers, builders and realtors and the local chamber of commerce. For the last twenty years they have not seen a shopping center development, housing development or project that they did not like. Our schools are overcrowded, our roads are congested, keeping up with water and sewage needs is difficult and we also have more crime and cannot provide enough law enforcement. We now also have water restrictions during dry summers because of overdevelopment. Years ago there was plenty of water even during dry periods. Also our property taxes keep increasing to pay for upkeep of the infrastructure after the builders and developers have left.

The first thing we need to do is NOT re-elect Myra. She is past her time and has done nothing for our city in the past few years. The next order of business is to change how many terms a person can be in office in the City of Virginia Beach, 20 YEARS IS A LONG TIME! Enough is enough we definately need change at the local leval. She has no business running for office again and needs GO. I pay so much in taxes, but don't see it go where it needs to go. If our schools and roads were in better condition I realy would not care. NO TO MYRA AND NO TO SESSOMS.... he was one of the brain surgeons behind the Town Center.

Just remember.......A vote for Taylor or Moss is a vote for Oberndorf. In a 4-way race the incumbent benefits greatly when the challengers split the "vote for change" 3 ways. The only hope for a real change in the mayor's office is Sessoms. Vote wisely if you really want change.

Will Sessoms is the worst thing that could ever happen to Va Beach, unless you include re-electing Meyera Obendorf,....again .

Mayor Oberndorff getting money from developers, -- imagine that!

That Sessoms is all for the business and none for the community. Who in there right mind gets 1/2 million dollars in donations for a mayorial race. Come on...you know where the money is coming from...and he is going to give it back to them in favors, approvals and anything that would help them out. Why else would so much be donated in a market like this. Gimmie a Break!!! I think i'm voting for Moss. Seems to be the less evil of all. If you vote for NO ONE. Then the uninformed will vote and we will be back to the same old same old. VOTE!!! But Vote Smart.