Longtime Portsmouth treasurer prevails in Dem primary

Posted to: Elections News Portsmouth
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By Jen McCaffery
The Virginian-Pilot
© June 10, 2009

PORTSMOUTH

Longtime city Treasurer James L. "Jimmy" Williams prevailed Tuesday in the first challenge he has faced during his 16-year tenure.

Williams beat challenger Bruce LaLonde in the Democratic primary Tuesday. LaLonde is chairman of the city's municipal finance commission.

No Republican has signed up to run, nor have any independents, assuring Williams' seat.

"I look forward to serving the citizens of Portsmouth for another four years," Williams said.

LaLonde challenged Williams on Portsmouth's current year delinquent tax collection rate, which is the lowest of all the cities in South Hampton Roads.

Williams maintained that his collections are up to more than 95 percent within a year of the due date, the standard required for state accreditation. '

Jen McCaffery, (757) 446-2627, jen.mccaffery@pilotonline.com

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No change for P-town

Submitted by ptownmex on Thu, 06/11/2009 at 7:15 am.

Code or no Code. It still the good old boy. If an individual doesn't agree with what the City Manager/Council Members on the method on how our money is spent, then express your opinions and fight for those of us that still care for P-town. Thank you.

Not only

Submitted by ring442 on Wed, 06/10/2009 at 6:12 pm.

Should there be term limits but I think age limits would be appropriate also. Another example of a carear politician feeding at the public trough.

Hmmmm.

Submitted by A_Citizen on Wed, 06/10/2009 at 4:44 pm.

Treasurer brings in the revenue. It's city mangager and council that spends it. Learn to blame the right people.

In fact read 58.1 of Code of Virginia. You will learn what they do and don't do.

Portsmouth voters are non-thinkers.

Submitted by jesse scout on Wed, 06/10/2009 at 2:45 pm.

There are two ways elections can go in P-town. It can be a race thing or "keep the good old boy in" politics. Here we had a chance to get a highly qualified, smart, expert in today's technology person in as treasurer and what happens, in spite of the incumbents blundering the people vote him back in. I guess it was because he had bigger signs. I like a term I heard someone mention recently when talking about Portsmouth's voters. It went something like "Portsmouth voters are not deep thinkers". I almost beg to disagree with that phrase. Many Portsmouth voters are "non-thinkers". We deserve 4 more years of lost money. Only the tax payers need to read this. The non tax payers will still get their money.

I agree

Submitted by ring442 on Wed, 06/10/2009 at 6:31 am.

With the earlier post. Williams has been treasurer so long the only picture the Pilot could publish was black & white. It's a shame that a few people keep putting these same people back in office. My thanks to Mr. LaLonde for trying. To the citizens that didn't bother to vote, you got what you deserve.

Why...

Submitted by vespap125x on Tue, 06/09/2009 at 11:22 pm.

Why do the residents of Portsmouth continue to elect the same people to run the city into ground time after time? Here's to another 4 years of more of the same and poorly managed finances. Once again Portsmouth comes in last. Congratulations!