He may be long shot for mayor, but he's a hit on the Web

Scott Taylor is in the lead on technology and connecting with the younger generation. Don't get me started on the Meyera videos..Sorry user: nrose, Meyera does not have a significant internet profile and her MySpace, Facebook, look like its from here. "She's also got a number of online videos that her explain her red shoes campaign." says nrose. Looks like you're just trying to promote your company that did those amateur videos. Hey, it's not working - you'll lose the business. No dice here. Meyera - take those videos down now and you may still have a chance of redeeming your image. Stick with the grassroots and you may still have a chance.

Senator McCain is certainly due honor and respect for his service in the military just as the veteran in the race is due the same for his service. Even the incumbent is due respect as well for her service as the spouse of a 30 year military veteran. But the Mayor's race is about competent and effective leadership, not about popularity or the honor deserved to many for their past military service. 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.

Hi Dixeyland, just wanted to tell you that you are mis-informed. Playa Rana hasn't even been selling for 3 years. It is a 42 unit condo complex where 20 have sold and 1 is currently under contract, so you might want to check your facts before you go posting information on here. Have you ever been inside the condos? It is an awesome project, you should check them out!!

Am I crazy or is this whole election from President to the Mayor Race in VA Beach gone to heck in a hand basket. How could we let a leader like Mr. Taylor or Senator McCain have their service to this country mean nothing. You say Mr. Taylor has no experience as a leader? Well let me tell you any VET should be outraged by the negative comments below. Myra and Sessoms have never served in the military. That is where TRUE leaders are made. He has a Masters certificate from O.D.U. in government contracts. He was a NAVY SEAL, he started his own business and has been paying taxes from the age of 11. He is from a single mom with four kids. No money, No developers padding his pockets. He has made himself from nothing and was injured in Iraq keeping us free and safe. Go to a Civic league meeting, go to forum, go to a church that has asked him to speak and see first hand what he stands for. You won't get that from the Pilot. I can't see how the Pres. of the areas local bank will be an effective Mayor with all the conflicts that will cause. At least Moss has worked with the military as a numbers cruncher. Myra, I have no words for how she has made it this long.

The comments below reflect the path the Pilot has taken by not doing its job and reporting this event from a fair field. Scott Taylor is not from Jersey but from the Eastern Shore. The fact he has only done one development is all the more reason to support him. He is not in any pocket. He is only 30. Good! I guess it's his fault he went off to serve his country and not develop Town Center and the 31st Street project that we the tax payers voted against! I also like the fact that Scott was not part of the Sessomdorf team that pushed the SportsPlex forward that cost the tax payers one million dollars a year in losses or the former TPC Golf corse that cost us 400,000 a year in losses. He was not part of the B.R.A.C. problem that almost cost this area 39% of it's revenue. I bet Sessoms and Myra supporters wish their candidate had a clean slate like that. Also, to touch on the MySpace issue. Some of the same ladies on Scott's page are on the McCain and Palin Myspace pages. Hmmmmmm??? The Pilot made it's point to the people of Hampton Roads. Don't be attractive and support a person running for office. It will hurt the candidate you support in the long run.

Look, he seems like a very nice guy, but he has no experience or grounding in the community.

He will certainly finish ahead of Moss who has a dwindling base of support, but he really is not a contender in the mayoral race at all.

If only it were that easy. I've been to the websites, and I'm not waiting for the pilot to "tell me how to vote." It's pretty obvious that going to the candidates' websites will NOT give me an unbiased view of said candidates, or any real idea of what their plans mean for me. The websites all say the same thing, namely what everyone wants to hear: "lower taxes! less traffic! better schools! more safety!" etc etc etc. It's the candidate's job to basically be biased for himself and speak of how great he would be for the city. But that's not what I'm looking for. I'm looking for objective reporting on exactly what these candidates stand for and plan to do for this city, good or bad.

MP says he doesn't "know who to vote for in local elections, and so far all I seem to have to go by are the signs and the obvious endorsement by the Pilot...with no details of what anyone will actually do in office."

All the candidates have Web sites. Why don't you do your own research and make an informed decision, instead of looking at signs and waiting for the Pilot to tell you how to cast your ballot?

People feel a need to vote for a junior senator with no experience for president. We have people who vote for this man without knowing or caring about his background. People will vote for him not caring about his associations with a racist or know terrorist friends. They just don't care that in order to put his big health care into action for every American it will cost tax payers big. People say that Palin is an unknown but so was this man running for president, who ever heard or knew anything about him before he was force to run for president? And people will vote for him because he's black. So people will vote for anyone it seems. So with Taylor running for mayor he's pretty much an unknown so why wouldn't you want to vote for him? It seems that people look at a candidate for mayor closer than they do for candidates running for president.

No matter the coverage of this first time candidate, the race for Mayor at the Beach is between the current Mayor and Will Sessoms. Given the advantage of incumbency for free and unfettered publicity, any serious candidate must have the resources to challenge the long time incumbent for this leadership position. Sessoms has done that, and he presents an alternative that stresses economic development to develop the tax revenue from non residential sources. Taxpayers must know that Sessoms is well qualified to lead and to make the Beach a better candidate for business opportunity that provides jobs and tax revenue so we can have the best programs and services. It is one thing to act as the figure head for the city; it is another to stimulate and create action in the public interest, and Will Sessoms is extremely well qualified for the top leadership position in our city government.

Yes, Scott Taylor has a substantial Internet presence...which you might well expect for a candidate of his generation. However, Mayor Oberndorf also has a significant Internet profile as well - MySpace, Facebook, interactive web site, etc...which you might not expect from a lady of her generation. She's also got a number of online videos that her explain her red shoes campaign.

Does anyone know where to find credible, objective comparisons between candidates for Va Beach mayor/city council? The Pilot is showing itself more and more to be horribly biased. I'd like to actually know more about what this guy stands for, but instead the Pilot just paints him as a playboy with a "first-timer's superficial grasp of the city's problems and their solutions" (a claim they don't even try to qualify).

I don't know who to vote for in local elections, and so far all I seem to have to go by are the signs and the obvious endorsement by the Pilot of Orbendorf/Sessoms with no details of what anyone will actually do in office.

He seems like a nice person and well intentioned, however, his website did not really have any concrete information on how he is going to do what he wants to do. There is one thing on his website that I really disagree with:

"We need to allow developers more density and require them to put into their developments a percentage of affordable housing."

Nobody wants to buy a million dollar home alongside one that may become section 8 housing in the future, and if it doesn't, then investors will buy these affordable houses and rent them out, negating thier purpose. Let us build the affordable housing along the public transit areas where they should be and quit trying to mix them in with the people who actually pay taxes.

This comment is not addressed to the mayoral candidate. He continues to take the high road...and he is THE most viable candidate.

Knowing the mayoral candidate's background I am sure that the negative borderline slanderous comments posted on here... would be quickly retracted...if said in person to the mayoral candidate's face.

In regards to that development, it is a nice development. They, like many other developers, hit the market at the wrong time.

But the "fake" mudslinging on here is exactly why people of means and substance do not waste much time reading such online blither.

This is the wonderful "age of the blog"...where everybody "has a voice"...but where nothing much is ever said!

People of substance simply have more important things to do and do not want to waste their time listening to vacuous "concerns"!! I'm off!! Get'tum SCOTT! You are doing a great job bro.

Christopher Malendoski Norfolk, VA

Why is the pilot write stories about this dude. He's raised $75,000 and $50,000 of it is from one person. What does he do for a living yall say he is a developer and his only project is Paya Raina??? That place is on 28thSt the old Captain's Quarters Hotel. They have only had 6 closings in the last three years on 43 unit development (according to REIN) Feel sorry for whoever bought one. I guess I'm hating now but I just think that the Mayor of VB should be from VA or at least the South, Not New Jersey or Conneticuit or wherever.

I was concerned about this article. I went to Scott Taylor's myspace page and yes those girls are there. However.... they all live in VA Beach. So what is the guy supposed to do? Should he tell a model, actor, or any pretty girl not to support him? He is a young man. So are his friends. We should be happy that Scott has the young people behind him. I guess the other people running in this race all have ugly friends. I guess this is all they can stir up on the poor guy. I am also shocked he is called the underdog? When did it become the person running in second place is the under dog?!?!?!?! I guess he needs hundreds of thousands of dollars from developers to count as a front runner. To heck with what the people want.

It amazes me, that with the Mayoral Race right around the corner, the Pilot would focus on issues better served by US Magazine, than focus on the real issues at hand when writing about mayoral candidate Scott Taylor. The focus of your article should be on the fact that Scott Taylor has a plan of action to take our city to the next level, and the dedication and drive to see it through. Your article should educate voters on the real issues, so they are able to make the best decision for themselves and our city when we elect our next Mayor.

The fact that your article focuses not only on Scott Taylor’s appearance, but also on the appearance of some of his female supporters, is ridiculous as well as insulting. Yes, I am voting for Scott Taylor. Why? Because I’ve read the issues and made an informed decision. I’m ready to see new energy and ideas come to fruition, I’m ready to see our city taken to the next level. Scott Taylor is honest and has integrity, which is lacking in many of our “leaders” today. He sees the issues and wants to be our voice. So please, in the future, focus on what really matters.

Brandy Johnson

It looks like the Pilot did it's job in making sure this guy would not be taken seriously. Be prepared for Sessomdorf, the Pilot's favorite.

The most important thing is that the mayor be helped on her way out the door. Two will siphon votes from the one with the most objective chance of helping accomplish that. That should be the obly criteria for this election for the voters ov VB.

IS HE FOR REASSESSING PROPERTY >>>>> DOWN????

Reelect No One, especially the Mayor. We need a fresh start in Virginia Beach. Sessoms is not a good choice either.