Pastor says form letter was not a reference

NORFOLK

A pastor said he was surprised to learn that a state official said he submitted a letter on behalf of a man asking to be an ABC manager at a nightclub.

The Rev. Gregory Norris said he didn't know Kenny Bullock, who owns the building that houses the Palace on Plume Street. The club, through its attorney, on Jan. 10 asked that Bullock be named an Alcoholic Beverage Control manager despite a drug conviction in the 1990s.

In a February decision granting the request, hearing officer Clara A. Williamson wrote that Norris submitted a letter of reference for Bullock.

"I don't even know who he is," the pastor of Friendship Baptist Church said Tuesday. "I've never even met the man before."

The 2011 letter, he said, was a form letter that went to entities that donated money to his church.

"We give them to Wawa, Coca-Cola, anybody who donates," he said. "We always send that."

Virginia ABC provided a copy of the letter, which was addressed "Dear Sir," and sent to Kebco Enterprises, Bullock's company in Chesapeake.

Norris said he wanted members of his church and the community to know the background of the letter and that he didn't intend to get involved in an ABC hearing. He said Bullock called him Wednesday.

"I'm behind him. I root for him. I encourage him," Norris said.

Kevin Martingayle, the lawyer who represented The Palace, said the letter shouldn't be an issue for Bullock.

"The letter speaks for itself and was offered simply to show an example of positive community involvement. With or without the letter, the result would have been the same," he said in an email.

An ABC spokeswoman did not respond to a request for comment.