THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 7, 1994 TAG: 9407060092
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
SOURCE: John Pruitt
LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines
As the Suffolk City Council begins its year with three new members, one message should ring clear: Citizens want responsive government. Aloofness - or, as some citizens put it, modern-day taxation without representation - won't do, even in areas that seem remote to the workings of City Hall.
Each of the victorious candidates may credit their win at least partly to promised accountability. Now, the people they vowed to represent will expect just that.
Although all of the new members have vast experience with government, none has held political office - unless you want to count as political the appointive positions of Charles F. Brown. In the minds of some citizens, this paucity of political background is not a drawback but a plus.
Those citizens hope that, instead of spending their time on ways to make themselves look good, the newly elected councilmen will focus on how best to serve constituents of their boroughs and other Suffolk residents. There is no lack of issues, from long-term water supplies to sewerage.
Even under the best circumstances, though, it will take time for the council to function as a cohesive body. The newcomers have a lot to learn, including legitimate reasons that the council must sometimes work in secrecy despite public pressure for open government. And the current members must learn the strengths and quirks of their new co-workers.
Several elements pose potential conflicts:
The long government service of Councilman J. Samuel Carter, former fire chief; and Thomas G. Underwood, former assistant city manager.
Mr. Brown's fiery appearances before some of the City Council members with whom he now will work.
No matter how congenial their relationship with City Manager Richard J. Hedrick, the fact remains that Mr. Carter and Mr. Underwood now supervise their former boss. The city manager works ``at the pleasure'' of the council, even though there are those who hold that Suffolk city managers over the years have ``run'' the council.
Mr. Hedrick ultimately is responsible for vacating Mr. Underwood's position and forcing his retirement after 25 years of government service, 20 as an assistant city manager. Such difficult decisions are expected of city managers, but they may have consequences.
Underwood's election reflects a surge in grassroots politics. People in the Holland Borough want change. Many feel that the area has too long been the neglected stepchild. They've paid their taxes all these years; they want what many other citizens take for granted: water supply to fight the mysterious fires that have plagued the area and sewerage to relieve obnoxious and unsanitary conditions.
Despite hosting occasional town meetings, former Councilman Roy F. Waller was seen by some Holland residents as an ineffective communicator. It may have been more the case that Mr. Waller could not deliver the news they wanted. He knew the huge sums involved in desired projects and passed that on to voters, so they ousted the bearer of bad news.
That leaves Mr. Underwood to balance being an aggressive advocate for Holland with what is good for the whole city.
In electing Mr. Carter, citizens said essentially that they preferred the unknown to the known: Andrew B. Damiani, former mayor and longtime councilman. They wanted a non-politician, and Mr. Damiani thrives on politics.
Mr. Brown, a harsh critic of the Redevelopment and Housing Authority and occasionally the City Council, now finds himself in a position to help remedy some of Suffolk's longstanding problems - if he doesn't prefer simple rabble-rousing.
New beginnings are always encouraging.
KEYWORDS: SUFFOLK CITY COUNCIL by CNB