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View the City Council candidates here. View the school board candidates here.
Asterisks indicate incumbents.
1. Should light rail be extended into Virginia Beach?
2. Do you support in principal a public-private partnership to build an 18,500-seat arena to host professional sports and events here?
3. Is Virginia Beach headed in the right direction? Why or why not?.
4. What would be your primary goal on council?
The Candidates
Walter W. "Wally" Erb |? Richard ?RK? Kowalewitch | William D. ?Will? Sessoms Jr.
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Residence Arrowhead
Occupation Retired from U.S. Navy, Lockheed Martin
Personal Born in New York City; age 67;married to Dottie Erb; two children
Experience president, Virginia Beach Council of Civic Organizations; director, American Lung Association (Southeast Region); president, St. Timothy Church Council; Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation Commission; Veterans of Foreign Wars (392)
Education Associate?s degree in business administration, Tidewater Community College, 1982
Contact wallyformayor.com
1. Light Rail? Provided the referendum passes and grant money is available, light rail should be extended into Virginia Beach, at a minimum, to Town Center.
2. Arena? Yes, under the following conditions: the principals bear the construction costs, retain naming rights and concessionary management; Virginia Beach provides the land and entrance/egress traffic framework.
3. Right Direction? Basically yes, to a varying degree. However, we have shortcomings in adapting to urbanization and the various challenges it poses. Concentration on traffic, public transportation along with a living wage and affordable housing should be regarded at a higher level. Additionally, the need for expanding core services must be addressed more fully, especially in the areas of aging housing and city-provided framework (infrastructure).
4. Primary Goal? To perform as a responsible mayor. This entails forging council cooperation, mediation and developing consensus. Opening the mayor?s office to regularly scheduled hours, I will be available to provide an open-door policy. Personal availability and transparent government is essential to bringing honor to the mayor?s office. Fostering cooperation, rather than competition, with our neighboring cities is paramount in solving our economic availability to the job market. This coupled with a schedule of physical presence in Richmond during the General Assembly session would be instrumental in obtaining grants and addressing our city and regional needs. Unencumbered financially, without the need to be distracted by a job or business, I can unremittingly pursue this goal.
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Residence Oceanfront
Occupation Owner, RK?s Surf Shop
Personal Born in Kapuskasing, Ontario, Canada; age 52; married to Dorothy Patterson; one stepson
Experience Community service: has given numerous donations and gift certificates to charitable organizations and events; has been involved behind the scenes politically for more than 20 years.
Education Norview High School, 1978. Attended Old Dominion University.
Contact RKforMayor.com
1. Light Rail? I do not feel light rail should be extended to Virginia Beach. Light rail is not affordable for Virginia Beach to build or to maintain annually. It will not resolve any of the traffic issues we are now experiencing. It would only cause an increase in our taxes. But if the citizens of Virginia Beach (by the referendum) want light rail, I will honor it. I will make sure that Virginia Beach will not go through what Norfolk did with budget overruns. There will be accountability.
2. Arena? I support having an arena, but I do not feel that it should be supported by any of our tax dollars. The private corporation that is spearheading this deal should invest and build the arena itself if it is such a beneficial business deal.
3. Right Direction? Virginia Beach is not headed in the right direction. The majority of the current council support special interest groups. The council uses the school and public safety budget shortfalls as a threat for the raising of taxes and fees to help these special interest groups. We should be redirecting the money from these special interest groups to the core services of the city.
4. Primary Goal? My primary goals on council are: (1) to control spending by eliminating unnecessary expenses and not adding any new taxes and fees; (2) creating an atmosphere where small businesses and the free enterprise system will thrive and insuring that the government will not be able to pick winners and losers.
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Residence North End
Occupation President/CEO, Towne Financial Services Group
Personal Born in Ahoskie, N.C.; age 58; married to Bev Sessoms; three children
Experience Elected mayor in 2008. Virginia Beach Jaycees, Tidewater Regional Transit Authority, Virginia Beach Neptune Festival, Virginia Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad Foundation, Sentara Health Care System, state?s Public School Authority, past chairman of the Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization and the Hampton Roads Military & Federal Facilities Alliance.
Education Bachelor?s degree in business, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1976
Contact www.facebook.com/mayorsessoms
1. Light Rail? The referendum should be passed; this would allow us to do a thorough evaluation of the issue, get public input and find out if federal and state money is available to pay for light rail. If this all comes together, I do believe light rail should move into Virginia Beach.
2. Arena? If the people who use the building pay for it, and it?s not a burden to the Virginia Beach taxpayers, I am supportive. I will work diligently to get the best deal possible for the city. If we can work with Comcast-Spectacor, a reputable, solid business in the arena/pro sports/entertainment industry, and Comcast guarantees coverage of any shortfalls in project revenue, to me, that will be the icing on the cake.
3. Right Direction? Virginia Beach is heading in the right direction: one of the lowest unemployment rates and crime rates of any city in the nation; a public school system that has been ranked the fifth best in the entire country; the only city with a AAA bond rating from all three bond-rating agencies in the entire region. As mayor, during my second term, I will continue to work tirelessly to make Virginia Beach the best place to live, work and raise a family in the United States.
4. Primary Goal? My primary goal would be to make sure Virginia Beach stays a safe, well-educated and enjoyable city where good, quality jobs are provided with a focus on research and development, medicine and energy.
Source: http://hamptonroads.com/2012/10/voter-guide-virginia-beach-mayor
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