VIRGINIA BEACH
Mayor Meyera Oberndorf's re-election campaign has filed a formal complaint over fliers handed out on Election Day showing her opponent and eventual winner, Will Sessoms, with Barack Obama.
The fliers depicted Sessoms and then-Democratic presidential nominee Obama smiling side by side, as if they were supporters of each other's campaign. But Sessoms backed and contributed to Republican presidential nominee John McCain. No disclaimer on the fliers indicated who had authorized them.
They shouldn't have been passed out at polls on Election Day, said Roger Oberndorf, the mayor's husband and campaign manager. "It was an illegal flier," he said. "I would have filed a complaint whether we won the campaign or lost the campaign."
Sessoms said he had no prior knowledge of the fliers and had them pulled at midday on Nov. 4.
Bruce Williams, a consultant hired to help the Sessoms campaign with black voters, said this week that he didn't ask for permission to hand out the fliers.
"I've already gotten beaten up on this," Williams said.
He said he didn't know who paid for the fliers. Somebody stopped him when he was checking on polling sites before the election and gave him the boxes containing the fliers, Williams said.
The fliers have provided fodder for bloggers and politicos in the weeks after the election.
They made Carlos Michael Segarra, a student at Norfolk State and a poll worker for Sessoms, uncomfortable. Segarra said he and a few of his fraternity brothers were recruited to work in black precincts.
Segarra said he handed out a few of those fliers on Election Day, but then, "we felt really weird and put them back in the car... "
Segarra said he received the fliers during a training session the night before the election at the Williams Mullen law firm in Town Center, where Sessoms' supporter and former Councilman William Harrison is a partner.
Segarra said poll workers were given three sets of fliers, including the Sessoms-Obama one, and was instructed to give them to black voters.
Sessoms said he remains upset that the fliers were distributed. "What occurred there, I had no knowledge about," he said. "It irritates me greatly that it occurred."
Louisa Strayhorn, the last black person elected to the Virginia Beach City Council, said she is concerned that the flier falsely gave black voters the impression that Sessoms and Obama supported each other.
"I'm all for the voting process, but when people are told falsehoods, things that aren't true, that's another thing," said Strayhorn, who gave a witness account to the commonwealth's attorney. Strayhorn was working the polls for the Obama campaign when she saw the fliers.
Strayhorn said they were morally "egregious," but it will be up to authorities to determine whether they were illegal.
Deirdre Fernandes, (757) 222-5121, deirdre.fernandes@pilotonline.com
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Say Cheese!
Bravo Norvell. DavidBD really seems to like cheese - a lot. Brings it up every chance he/she gets. Sounds more personal than anything else. Methinks he doth protest too much. Speaking as one of the Rex Motion Media team, I am most proud of the output, and the effort especially on such limited resources. Creative. Upbeat. Positive.
As for Meyera's effort we were most proud to have worked on her campaign - proud enough to have used our real names when we commented here or anywhere else. Meyera, you handled yourself with grace and dignity. I don't think that can be said in conjunction with those involved with the flyer.
Oh, as for the other Ethan who has been commenting, I can only assume there is another Ethan who is feeling strong enough to to do so - it is not me, DavidBD - I am Ethan Marten of Rex Motion Media.
I understand
your open mindedness, Mary. I was getting at those who do feel that Blacks are totally unaware & can be lead to believe anything, by anything. Yes, some believe that & worse. Just read some posters' comments. Sorry if you misconstrued. Have a good 1.
On the other hand
Charbeee states below..."In California if you want to build a development you also have to build a school… On the developers own dime....Why are we doing the opposite? Greed, Corruption?" Well no, perhaps we have better policies. First, if the developer is required to build a school, you can be sure that the residents of that subdivision will be the ones making that contribution in the sale price of the home. Second, those residents will be taxed twice; first in the price of their home, and then in the property taxes they pay to the city, county, and school board. So if you want double or triple taxation for some, your way is the best way. If you want inherent fairness in public policy, then our way is better. Your choice. And given the housing foreclosure problems in California brought about in part by exorbitant prices for homes for the reason you quote, you may want to rethink your position.
Why?
Meyera... Thank you for caring and standing up to the men who think they are all powerful with their money and attempts to monopolize local government for personal gain and power. I now agree with your Children that you are a pioneer and it’s obvious you maintain your integrity after 20 years of service…God only knows what they offered you to roll over on us…I was disgusted thinking this was going to be swept under the rug…
I am sooo sick of greedy power mongrel men tossing aside the principles and laws of our country that so many have lost their LIVE and LIMBS for so that we may enjoy our freedom...How much is a life worth now days??
They couldn’t buy a Mayor so they tried to buy an election, when all else failed they resorted to this an Disgrace and insult to everything America and our City stands for…
SHAME ON EVERYONE WHO LETS THIS HAPPEN BY REMAINING QUITE!!!
Bruce Williams your righteous indignation and irritation about being inconvenienced or hassled regarding the fliers you provided and distributed is beyond insulting and disrespectful. Why have we heard nothing from Sessoms??
Twomiler
Oh, I think some of my white Republican friends voted for Obama as well. Their decision to make . . .
But I think you and I are passing like ships in the night in trying to make our points. I was holding the Sessoms campaign (perhaps not him personally) accountable for assuming that blacks would be duped into voting for Sessoms by that flyer, if they had not already done their homework on this election. I was not saying that I personally thought that blacks would be duped, but that it was a very one-dimensional view of blacks and their voting patterns that would lead the campaign to put out such a flyer. That was why I was outraged by it--because it implied that blacks would not independently read up on the campaigns and the issues. S'okay?
Let the truth be known
My name is Norvell Rose. I am the Founder and President of REX Motion Media. I am also proud to identify myself in these Comments and proud also to have been involved in the campaign to re-elect Meyera Oberndorf. Unlike some posters ("DavidBd" in particular), I believe that the truth should be pursued and known...that honesty in political campaigns is vital...that we should never settle for, nor succumb to, cynicism that tempts us to accept deception and duplicity. The ends do not justify the means. Now, as for pretending or assuming one knows "the truth" about who did what for the Oberndorf campaign...and being all too willing to publish one's utter ignorance without the benefit of facts (DavidBD in particular)...this also, I would suggest, doesn't advance nor does it do justice to the discourse. Again, my name is Norvell Rose. And I am always happy to deal directly with any question, any concern or any issue that anyone might wish to address.
My point was
somewhat missed by some, I see. Some posters implied, through their comments, that Blacks aren't smart enough to discern. My comments concerning Bush are meant to illustrate how anyone, of any race or ethnicity, can be fooled, whether they are smart or not. I'm aware of Black voting patterns, from Reconstruction to now. Your comments help make my comments more clear, on this matter, if 1 is willing to dig a little. A case in point; if you feel you have certain knowledge that more Blacks voted Rep. in 2000 & 2004, than in 2008: how then can the disparity be explained, when 1 goes into the polling places & asks voters for whom they voted? The #s for Bush given, in no way match, the # of votes counted for Bush. Blacks voted in large #s for Reps. 'til FDR, HST, JFK, & LBJ. Think 'bout it awhile. Now, if Obama got, as it's said, 96% of the Black vote & Kerry got 88%, that means some Black Reps. voted for Obama, perhaps even your friends...
OUTRAGE
In California if you want to build a development you also have to build a school… On the developers own dime....Why are we doing the opposite? Greed, Corruption?
I am so sick of greedy men taking advantage of and monopolizing the political process for personal gain. I don’t think this is what our forefathers had in mind …
If you look at the polls in the beacon Sessoms would not have won without the fliers. Why hasn’t he commented...?
We cannot let this fade away!!!...
It’s a huge terrible disgusting insult to the process and the men and women who have died and risk their lives to protect the principles this country is founded on…..
The LEAST we can do is demand Accountability and Integrity from our elected leaders!!
While they sit in their offices and we in our homes, Safe with all our limbs and facilities intact…
Integrity in the men we elect should be nonnegotiable if we accept less we are as guilty as them..
I am personally disgusted more people are not in an outrage about this!!!!
If you don’t care about the lives lost at least follow your money to make sure it is used for good…..
The problem of power is how to achieve its respon
Out of Touch
No MaryM, I believe that developers should pay for the infrastructure within their developments; of course, that is what they do now. But of course, you and others do not believe that, and nothing I or any other developer says will change your opinion. I have given example after example of commercial developments that my company and others have developed that have increased the commercial tax base, yet the anti growth advocates herein never believe that. So be it, but the infrastructure I was referring to below are major street, highway, and interstate projects that the republican majority in the House of Delegates has blocked and which will now cost 3 to 4 times the cost because of their intrasigence. Penny wise and pound foolish is the common vernacular, and if you need a reminder of what that means, simply read Reid Greenmun's post below. Even though the VBTA could not even garner 16% of the vote, his and their message is as out of touch as always.
Don't get mad -- just take those red shoes and walk away
So, the flyer was misleading. This is not the first political flyer to mislead or the last. Politicians have always "adjusted" their stand to fit the audience to get the vote. Roger, Ethan and the rest of Rex Motion, too bad those cheesy videos only pushed people to "walk" away from voting for Meyera. I'm surprised Meyera would even condone such an act. She is a world-class leader. For her to "stoop" this low and leave this as her last impression with citizens is a bad pr move. Do you really want to have everyone remember you as the sore-loser and not your accomplishments for the last 20+ years? It's a shame your "crack team of sore losers" have made you do this...just "walk" away. gracefully, if you still can.....
%
Forgot to mention, VA Beach is shy of 20% African-American. Maybe these fliers made a difference with some, but still Meyera only managed 35% of the overall count, which means a lot of WHITE voters voted for her opponents, including Sessoms. And they didn't receive any deceptive literature. Hummm.....
Sore losers are the worst losers....
Tiem to Retire
Let it go Meyera... it was past time for you to hang it up.
Whether this flyer made a difference or not, here are the stats:
Sessoms -- 74,315 (38.92%)
Oberndorf -- 67,462 (35.33%)
Moss -- 30,047 (15.73%)
Taylor -- 19,135 (10.02%).
Obviously the majority wanted a change... any change would do. And that says it all.
Mr. Barrett
Well Mike, you just proved my point. You can support whoever you want to in an eletion, donate to campaigns and give your time to support your guy as long as Mike Barrett agrees with the policy of that candidate.
Chill out Mike. Your guy Will Sessoms won. Also Mike, once again, I am not a member of the VBTA. I am a regular chump out here who is tired of being forced to accept the boloney from these hampton roads entities and pay for projects and roads that benefit the pockets of those in and affiliated with the chambers of commerce. With Sessoms as mayor, you'll get your return on your investment whereas the rest of us will be shafted as usual.
now that it's safe...
Now that he has won with the misleading fliers, Sessoms can criticize the fliers with gusto.
Mr. Barrett
Thanks for admitting that you are awaiting payback on the money you spent on the Sessoms campaign.
When you talk about infrastructure improvements, do I gather that you don't think developers should pay for any of them when they put up a subdivision or office tower? That taxpayers should just smile and reach for their wallets as their taxes are raised to pay for infrastructure to handle the additional people/traffic in a newly developed area?
Do you live in Virginia Beach, by the way?
Warm
Warmer.... Your on the right track...Keep digging!!!
If you looked at the polls in the Beacon its easy to see Sessoms would not have been elected without the fliers.... What a dirty trick just like VB politics..What a bunch of greedy men...
“There are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations.” - James Madison, June 16, 1788
Mr,Williams.....What a terrible underhanded thing to do and worse since you are the economic director of VB NAACP and on Governer Kaines Board of Contractors......It all makes me sick....Shame on you all!!!!
I am tied of Mike Barrett's lies
SPSA mismanager and Developer Mike Barrett tells another whopper here. The VBTA and other citizens defeated the Mike/Hampton Roads Partnership $2.5M YES Campaign by exposing the truth about the many YES Campaign deceptions they tried to spread and about the lack of traffic congestion the YES Campaign regional highway projects would provide. Mike then states that the VBTA opposed funding these projects and that everyone agrees the 6 MPO projects are needed. More baloney and more lies. This is the type of person that supports Will Sessoms and his ilk. The citizens of Tidewater voted by a 2-to-1 margin to reject Mike's regional scam because they saw through the deception and told their elected representatives "No!". Mike is still telling whoppers about his failures, just as he tries to spin the disaster SPSA is now in. The VBTA and others aren't special interests businesses that spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to buy elections. We are everyday citizens that oppose Mike's regional agenda and massive tax and spend, borrow and spend agenda.
Cost of doing nothing
Well Keith, the decision to support new taxes or fees certainly depends upon what is proposed. For example, the VBTA and other related groups led the fight against the referendum to build new transportation infrastructure. They simply did not want to raise any additional revenue. To me, the success of their opposition has been disastrous for our region. First, the improvements even now are uncertain and at best are a decade away. Second, no one now denies that they are necessary. And third, the cost of those same improvements are now so high that we will likely pay 3 or 4 times what we would have paid then. So the cost of failing to move ahead on needed infrastructure is the legacy of the anti tax groups. The irony of Portsmouth residents now writing letters to the editor complaining about the high cost of the proposed toll is not lost on those of us who supported the Yes Campaign; had they dumped Joannou, perhaps they would not be facing a toll at all.
Sigh of Relief
With Oberndorf's loss and Sessom's win, Virginia Beach may even join the rest of Hampton Roads in becoming an economically healthy region.
Sour Grapes
Well it's certainly a different kettle of fish to Mr. Barrett when taxpayers campaign and lobby in the state legislature or city councils against raising or new taxes and fees. When their representatives agrees with it's constituents wishes against such expenditures, then they are branded as irresponsible and for not focusing on the develop... sorry the public interest. With Sessoms election, Mike will get his wish. There will be more concrete poured in Virginia Beach than you can ever imagine now.
Will Sessoms won the election. Lots of money was poured into his campaign by developers and special interests. I also have no problem with the flyers either. I think it would be hard to prove whether Sessoms knew about them or not. Just like the flyer that told republicans to vote one day and dems another day. However, a blogger commented that it is up to the individual voter to inform his/her self. They decide whether or not to believe any campaign flyers, commercials, or comments from radio talk show hosts. Don't believe everything you read.