Voter Guide: Norfolk City Council candidates

Charles Brewer

• Age: 61
• Education: Attended Norfolk public schools, U.S. Naval Aviation Electronics Technician School, Tidewater Police Academy at Old Dominion University, DCJS General Instructor Certification. Attended TCC and St. Leo University
• Family: Married to Sallie Brewer; 1 stepson
• Occupation: Owns Just Call Chuck Home Repair; Retired Lieutenant, Norfolk Police Department
• Political experience/community service: Over 40 years service to community. Served on judicial nomination review committees; worked to improve neighborhood and school safety; raised funds for CHKD, children’s charities and scholarships

1. What is your position on using furloughs and layoffs of city workers to balance the budget?
There is intense concern about runaway government spending and the city must learn to fulfill its responsibilities with a leaner staff. Review every department for waste or duplication and determine whether there are too many employees. Furloughs are very unfair to employees and should be an absolute last resort to balance the budget. Strong management achieving productivity gains will allow for the elimination of staff positions and reduce the burden on taxpayers.

2. Norfolk is the only school division in South Hampton Roads to have an appointed School Board. Should it become an elected body?
Voters rightly want a school board that provides the strong financial oversight necessary to spend the taxpayer’s money wisely. I support an advisory referendum on this question. Elected school boards do not necessarily politicize the school system, and would be more responsive to the needs of parents and students, so I would support an elected board.

3. Should Norfolk televise more of its City Council meetings, including work sessions at which issues are presented and discussed, and the daytime formal meetings not currently televised?
Yes. Congress televises its meetings, so why not Norfolk City Council? It certainly would shed light on the proceedings and hold Council and staff accountable for their actions and words. I can’t see a single reason not to. As a member of Council, I would make a motion to make the televising of meetings a reality.

Return to top

Andy A. Protogyrou

• Age: 47
• Education: Virginia Military Institute B.A.; University of Richmond School of Law J.D.
• Family: Married, two children ages 13 and 16
• Occupation: Attorney
• Political experience/community service: Substitute judge, Norfolk General District and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts; Citizens Advisory Committee to the Chesapeake Bay Executive Council; City of Norfolk Electoral Board; Chairman and Secretary Norfolk International Azalea Festival; Chairman Lochhaven Civic League; President Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral; Trustee and Sunday School Teacher

1. What is your position on using furloughs and layoffs of city workers to balance the budget?
Norfolk is more than merely bricks and mortar. It is the people that live, work, and play in our city. If people are our most important resource, then furloughs and layoffs should not be used to balance the budget.

2. Norfolk is the only school division in South Hampton Roads to have an appointed School Board. Should it become an elected body?
Yes. In all facets of government today citizens seek accountability. Norfolk needs an elected school board.

3. Should Norfolk televise more of its City Council meetings, including work sessions at which issues are presented and discussed, and the daytime formal meetings not currently televised?
Yes. Citizens have a right to know.

Return to top

Barbara C. Saunders

• Age: 68
• Education: Sorenson Political Institute of the University of Virginia. Tidewater Community College and Old Dominion College. Woodrow Wilson High School in Portsmouth
• Family: Married, two adult children, two adult stepchildren and six grandchildren
• Occupation: President of Saunders Painting Company
• Political experience/community service: Former Commissioner Norfolk Redevelopment Housing Authority; Board Member Norfolk Crime Line; Former Board Member Norfolk Division Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce; Past President Ocean View Kiwanis Club; Past President Citizens Coalition for Good Government; Past President Willoughby Civic League; Member Ocean View Civic League and Ocean View Baptist Church

1.What is your position on using furloughs and layoffs of city workers to balance the budget?
I do not believe in using furloughs and layoffs of city workers as the first means to balance our budget. I consider cutting staff to be the last resort. If a reduction of the city’s work force becomes necessary I would prefer to see the city manager use attrition and early retirement incentives.

2. Norfolk is the only school division in South Hampton Roads to have an appointed School Board. Should it become an elected body?
I support elected school boards. The current system of appointing our school board has proven to be too political. School board members seem reluctant to have candid discussions regarding important issues because they are concerned with political ramifications. An elected school board allows the citizens to have a direct say in how their school system is managed and holds the superintendent accountable to the citizens, not the politicians.

3. Should Norfolk televise more of its City Council meetings, including work sessions at which issues are presented and discussed, and the daytime formal meetings not currently televised?
I support televising all city council meetings in their entirety, including informal work sessions. These meetings have a great deal of information provided by staff and other contributors, which the public should be able to see. Norfolk is the only city in South Hampton Roads to still hold afternoon meetings. Citizens should be able to watch their council at work.

Return to top

P.D. Trice Jr.

• Age: 78
• Education: Maury High School graduate; took night classes at the Norfolk division of the College of William and Mary, now Old Dominion University
• Family: One daughter
• Occupation: Artist and former owner of a dry cleaning business
• Political experience/community service: President of the Stumpy Lake Golf Club Association in 1970

1. What is your position on using furloughs and layoffs of city workers to balance the budget?
Sometimes it seems that there are many more workers for the job than necessary. For Instance: When fixing a pothole they send six workers and a driver when two or three would suffice.

2. Norfolk is the only school division in South Hampton Roads to have an appointed School Board. Should it become an elected body?
I believe the School Board should be elected.

3. Should Norfolk televise more of its City Council meetings, including work sessions at which issues are presented and discussed, and the daytime formal meetings not currently televised?
I believe all meetings should be open to the public and televised.

Return to top

Theresa W. Whibley

• Age: 62
• Education: BA, history, College of William and Mary; Masters in Reading Education, ODU; MD, Eastern Va. Medical School; Residency, Eastern Va. Graduate School of Medicine
• Family: Married for 40 years; two children and two granddaughters
• Occupation: Physician, OB/Gyn
• Political experience/community service: Norfolk School Board member and chair, TCC College Board, EVMS Board of Visitors, ACCESS Board, Norfolk Public School Foundation Board

1. What is your position on using furloughs and layoffs of city workers to balance the budget?
I would not be in favor of furloughs or layoffs of employees. I would prefer using attrition to reduce our employee costs if possible.

2. Norfolk is the only school division in South Hampton Roads to have an appointed School Board. Should it become an elected body?
Research by the Broad Foundation and other educational groups have demonstrated that appointed school boards are more effective than elected. Politicizing the selection of school board members discourages a board that works towards the betterment of the whole system. What Norfolk needs is to improve the appointment of school board members. A broader campaign to recruit interested and qualified applicants and a more open process in their selection would ensure we select board members prepared to make our school system truly world class.

3. Should Norfolk televise more of its City Council meetings, including work sessions at which issues are presented and discussed, and the daytime formal meetings not currently televised?
I would favor “ streaming” the informal meetings of all the city council meetings, as long as we can do it with very little extra cost, so that it would be available to our citizens.

Return to top

Anthony L. Burfoot

• Age: 44
• Education: Bachelor of Science in Public Administration, Masters Degree in Education Administrative Supervision
• Family: Married, four daughters
• Occupation: Deputy City Treasurer/CEO of Urban Restoration Development Consulting, LLC
• Political experience/community service: Council member since 2002/Vice Mayor since 2007

1.What is your position on using furloughs and layoffs of city workers to balance the budget?
I do not believe we should use furloughs and layoffs to balance the budget. I think we should scale back on projects that do not yield positive revenue. And, we should concentrate on those projects that generate an immediate return. Layoffs can further decrease revenue if families are forced out of their homes. That has a negative impact on the city’s coffers and the goal is to stabilize what we have and increase revenue coming into the city.

2. Norfolk is the only school division in South Hampton Roads to have an appointed School Board. Should it become an elected body?
Yes. I believe this is something we should explore. At a time when education in the city of Norfolk is under fire, it is important that we have people on our school board that are fiscally accountable, committed, and reliable and have a vested interest in our young people. At the end of the day, the best model is an elected process then we need to do what’s in the best interest of our school system.

3. Should Norfolk televise more of its City Council meetings, including work sessions at which issues are presented and discussed, and the daytime formal meetings not currently televised?
Yes. I fought hard in 2002 to establish televised council meetings. I wanted all sessions televised then, and I’m still committed to that today.

Return to top

Mamie B. Johnson

• Age: 44
• Education: Norfolk State University, School of Education
• Family: Married 18 years to William H. Johnson
• Occupation:  Retired Norfolk Public Schools -Teacher 14 years, Instructional Specialist 5 years
• Political experience/community service: I am currently the President of Broad Creek Civic League. I recently I completed a year of service as an AmeriCorps Volunteer In Service To America (VISTA).

1. What is your position on using furloughs and layoffs of city workers to balance the budget?
In this instance a careful review of the city’s budget and spending practices are in order. When the city begins to use furloughs and lay offs as a mean of balancing the budget it impacts many families, services and programs in our city. The city has to carefully monitor spending practices so furloughs and lay offs of city workers are not used

2. Norfolk is the only school division in South Hampton Roads to have an appointed School Board. Should it become an elected body?
The citizens should look at our present process of appointing school board members and how the decision to appoint is decided. An elected school board will provide more accountability and balance between the city council and school board. Elected school board has been a concern of the citizens. I want best practices for the school system.

3. Should Norfolk televise more of its City Council meetings, including work sessions at which issues are presented and discussed, and the daytime formal meetings not currently televised?
City Council meetings should be held in the evening so all citizens may attend or if they so choose can view the decision making process in the privacy of their home. Televising City Council meetings could also be used as a teaching tool for children. Televised City Council meetings provide accountability to all citizens. I think citizens would get more involved in our local government if we televised the meetings.

Return to top

William E. Mann Jr.

• Age: 50
• Education: Lake Taylor High School grad. Graduated with a BS in marketing from Old Dominion University
• Family: Single
• Occupation: President of Mann Power Enterprises Inc.
• Political experience/community service: As a businessman, raised funds for the YMCA and Norfolk's Leisure Services and donated athletic equipment to various athletic associations and city schools. While a member of the Norfolk Development Team, I organized campaigns that attracted the 1998 Junior Olympics, VSHL Sports Festivals and the McDonald's All-American Games.
  

1. What is your position on using furloughs and layoffs of city workers to balance the budget?
Furloughs and layoffs should not be the first resort to solving budget problems. We need to go back to the drawing board to review programs and then devise plans to make positive adjustments. The Council must have as a very high priority getting residents back to work. I am a strong advocate for the role that small businesses play in the local economy. To that end and among other things, we need to reward small businesses with incentives and tax breaks. This will help all businesses grow, help employ more residents, and bring much needed revenue to the city.

2. Norfolk is the only school division in South Hampton Roads to have an appointed School Board. Should it become an elected body?
The current allegations of cheating, coercion, and corruption only solidify the need for an elected school board. If you elect me, I will fight to ensure the residents decide who is best qualified for the school board. The residents will be able to hold school board officials accountable, there will be greater oversight, and residents will have a greater role in the education of their children.

3. Should Norfolk televise more of its City Council meetings, including work sessions at which issues are presented and discussed, and the daytime formal meetings not currently televised?
There is no such thing as too much information when it pertains to transparency in government and being held accountable by the citizens. There is no reason to shutout, drown out, and limit the voice of the people. If you elect me, I will fight diligently to make sure our local government is transparent and the resident’s voices are being heard.

Return to top

Donna S. Smith

• Age: 52
• Education: achelors of Fine Arts (BFA), Norfolk State University; Graduate of Leadership Hampton Roads, 2007; Academy for Non Profit Management, TCC Norfolk; Continued Studies, Severe Disabilities/Rehab Counseling, NSU
• Family: Widow, 1 son, 1 stepdaughter, many grandchildren
• Occupation: Executive Director, Southeastern Virginia Arts Association (SEVAA); licensed small business owner, “Donna Sample Smith Interiors”
• Political experience/community service: Community advocate for over twenty six years for youth, adults and senior citizens; Medicare and Medicaid Prescription Drug Intake Counselor, Regional Quality Assurance Transportation Coordinator, Norfolk Long Term Care Senior Services Supervisor for the Southeastern Virginia Area Agency for aging, Norfolk Elder abuse Prevention Specialist,/Housing Coordinator, Norfolk Parks and Recreation Specialist, Norfolk State University Athletic Foundation, Jewish Family Services Board. Implemented “Stay Focus” a photography gang prevention program at Coleman Place Eementary, partnering with Canon, ITS

1. What is your position on using furloughs and layoffs of city workers to balance the budget?
To use furloughs and layoffs of city workers to balance the budget will negatively impact our city. Citizens of Norfolk may receive less essential services. Moreover, as an elected official it is imperative that we identify revenue from other sources that will enable the city to protect the quality of services such as education, public safety and the environmental programs.

2. Norfolk is the only school division in South Hampton Roads to have an appointed School Board. Should it become an elected body?
Yes, the school board should become an elected body. Under the current system, the school board is directly accountable to city council who appoints the school board. Under an elected system Board members can be more objective in determining Public Policy and the citizens will have more involvement in the educational system of Norfolk.

3. Should Norfolk televise more of its City Council meetings, including work sessions at which issues are presented and discussed, and the daytime formal meetings not currently televised?
Yes, all meetings should be televised. Decisions are made during the work sessions and based on my observation, it is very imperative that all citizens of Norfolk be concluded in the decision making process.

Return to top

G.W. Cook Jr.

• Age: 47
• Education: Bachelor’s of Science, Psychology, Virginia Tech; Teaching Certificate, Norfolk State University; working toward a Masters of Social Work, Norfolk State University; Graduate, Command and General Staff College and Joint Forces Staff College
• Family: Married, four children
• Occupation: In-home youth counselor; U.S. Army Reserve Battalion Commander; part-time domestic violence group counselor
• Political experience/community service: Norfolk Library Board (2002); President, Chesterfield Heights Civic League (2006); Norfolk School Board since 2005; Governor School of the Arts Board and Foundation Board since 2009; current participant, Political Leaders Program, Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership, University of Virginia

1. What is your position on using furloughs and layoffs of city workers to balance the budget?
Layoffs and furloughs should be the last resort to balance budgets. Doing so is balancing the budget on the backs of workers who keep the city running. Layoffs and furloughs result in any remaining workers having to carry an even heavier burden. This is especially egregious considering raises aren’t being given. We must take care of our city workers who keep our city functioning.

2. Norfolk is the only school division in South Hampton Roads to have an appointed School Board. Should it become an elected body?
We should allow the residents of Norfolk to decide if they want an elected or appointed board. Have a referendum in November. There are pros and cons for both. Our school board must not get caught up in political games or ward partisanship. We must hold our school board and superintendent accountable.

3. Should Norfolk televise more of its City Council meetings, including work sessions at which issues are presented and discussed, and the daytime formal meetings not currently televised?
Norfolk City council should televise more of its meetings including work sessions. Our residents deserve it and have the right to see their representatives and the governing process at work. For too long Norfolk residents have been kept out of the process. It’s time for this to change. We should also televise the Planning Commission and perhaps Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority meetings. These organizations make decisions that involve the majority of city funds.

Return to top

Paul R. Riddick

• Age: 62
• Education: John Tyler Community College, AAS Funeral Service; Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer; Additional Coursework, Norfolk State University
• Family: Married, five children; seven grandchildren
• Occupation: Owner, Riddick Funeral Service, Norfolk
• Political experience/community service: Member of Norfolk City Council since 1992; Past President, Norfolk Branch-NAACP; Chair, Council Legislative and Strategic Planning Committee; Board Member-STOP; Member and former Chair, Hampton Roads Regional Jail Authority; Commissioner-Hampton Roads Transit Commission; Chair, Southside Task Force.

1. What is your position on using furloughs and layoffs of city workers to balance the budget?
I am not in favor of furloughs and layoffs. Given the current economy and the city’s inability to give raises and step increases, city employees don’t need to have further negative impact on their disposable income/take-home pay.

2. Norfolk is the only school division in South Hampton Roads to have an appointed School Board. Should it become an elected body?
My concern isn’t how someone gets on the School Board but the qualifications of who. An effective school board sets policy that advances student achievement and supports a positive work environment for teachers and staff. To do that, it should be a complement of competencies in child development, educational leadership, financial/budgetary and organizational management and leadership, among other things. As we now see, a board lacking these competencies ends up being led instead of leading.

3. Should Norfolk televise more of its City Council meetings, including work sessions at which issues are presented and discussed, and the daytime formal meetings not currently televised?
Access to meetings is important in meeting citizens’ need to be engaged in the political process. We recognize this and have taken gradual steps toward broadening access with more evening and televised meetings. My only reservation about increasing televised meetings at this time is the significant costs this would entail.

Return to top

Matthew T. Hales

• Age: 39
• Education: BS, Finance, MBA, University of Maryland, University College
• Family: Married to Lisa B. Hales
• Occupation: Vice President, GVI, Inc.
• Political experience/community service: o political party affiliation. Five year community leader serving as a director of his community Homeowners Association. Member of the Knights of Columbus Council 3548 and a Vice President of the Norfolk Sheriff Foundation. Member of the Holy Trinity School Board

1. What is your position on using furloughs and layoffs of city workers to balance the budget?
should be no reduction in our front line workforce which provides our core services, specifically police, fire, teachers and sheriff deputies. Furthermore, to balance our budget we should also be eliminating discretionary expenses, reducing facility lease expenses and renegotiating standard contracts used to buy material and hire contractors.

2. Norfolk is the only school division in South Hampton Roads to have an appointed School Board. Should it become an elected body?
Yes, our School Board should become an elected body. This is the only way the members can be held accountable by the voters. An appointed School Board can lend itself to two major problems: (1) the question of who holds them accountable and (2) the opportunity of appointments for favors or quid pro quos. An elected Board will solve both of these major problems.

3. Should Norfolk televise more of its City Council meetings, including work sessions at which issues are presented and discussed, and the daytime formal meetings not currently televised?
These are public meetings and as such they should all be televised. We should also pursue making these meetings available via webcast which will allow citizens to watch the proceedings at their convenience. Today our meetings have the appearance of being secretive. In fact, the Council rarely discusses formal agenda items prior to votes. All meetings and discussions should be readily available to the public. The citizens should understand the rationale behind decisions and votes.

Return to top

Tommy R. Smigiel Jr.

• Age: 31
• Education: Old Dominion University BA ; Cambridge College Masters in Education ; Norview High School
• Family: Married to Shannon Walsh, 2 daughters
• Occupation: Assistant Principal, Granby High School
• Political experience/community service: Norfolk Environmental Commission, Commissioner; East Ocean View Civic League, Past Vice President and Board Member; East Ocean View Civic League, Newsletter, Web Site and Neighborhood Clean-up Coordinator; Norfolk Relay for Life, Logistics Chair; West Ocean View Civic League, Past Treasurer.

1. What is your position on using furloughs and layoffs of city workers to balance the budget?
Why is it that the budget has to be balanced off of the backs of Norfolk’s workers and citizen services? In these tough economic times we must be fiscally responsible; however it is a gamble to cut wages from those who keep our city running. It’s about priorities. City Council found $56 million for light rail, but cannot fund pay raises for our first responders, teachers and other city employees.

2. Norfolk is the only school division in South Hampton Roads to have an appointed School Board. Should it become an elected body?
I favor an elected school board and have supported this initiative for over 10 years. With recent media attention focused on our schools, some council members (who have always opposed elected school boards) are now trying to distance themselves from the problems, seeming to forget their ultimate responsibility for our schools and trying to maintain power. An elected board brings much needed accountability and transparency to our school system.

3. Should Norfolk televise more of its City Council meetings, including work sessions at which issues are presented and discussed, and the daytime formal meetings not currently televised?
Yes, I support televising all city council meetings, including informal sessions, airing them live with replays on the public access channel and video streaming on the city’s website. In 2009 the majority of public hearings were scheduled during non-televised meetings, and only 15 out of 35 meetings held were televised. Plus those 15 meetings were not shown in their entirety. Meetings are taped and edited before being released to the public. Citizens have a right to see how their money is being spent.

Return to top

W. Randy Wright

• Age: 63
• Education: Norview High School grad; attended post-secondary education classes for five years.
• Family: Married to Arlene B. Wright; four sons, four grandsons, one granddaughter
• Occupation: Printer
• Political experience/community service: City Councilman since 1992, Chairs the Economic Community Business Development Committee, the Transportation Committee, the Mayor’s Ocean View Task Force, co-chair of East Little Creek Road Partnership; Downtown Development Task Force; Board of the Transportation District Commission of Hampton Roads since 1996. Vice Chair of the Transportation Policy Committee of the Virginia Municipal League; chair of 2005 Virginia Commission on Transportation in Urban Areas. Since 2007, chair of the Transit Board Member of North America for the American Public Transit Association. State Board of commerce from 1988 until 1996; Chairman from 1990-1992. State Board of Corrections, 2003-2009. Former city Planning Commissioner and Jury Commissioner for the Norfolk Circuit Court

1. What is your position on using furloughs and layoffs of city workers to balance the budget?
My position regarding furloughs and layoffs of city workers to balance the budget is that we should use these two methods only as a last resort. Historically, normal turnover and retirement numbers are high enough that we do not have to take this kind of action.

2. Norfolk is the only school division in South Hampton Roads to have an appointed School Board. Should it become an elected body?
Should the Norfolk Public Schools Board be elected or appointed? Normally, I would say if something is not broken, there is no need to fix it. However, that may not be the case this year. I believe an elected School board would hold the Superintendent more accountable than the present system. Either way, we need to improve our ability to communicate with the public.

3. Should Norfolk televise more of its City Council meetings, including work sessions at which issues are presented and discussed, and the daytime formal meetings not currently televised?
I am very open to televising any and all components of the work of the City Council of Norfolk. This includes work sessions as well as the public sessions and the meetings we already televise. We should evaluate the costs and seek the public’s input on this kind of expenditure.

Return to top