THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 14, 1994 TAG: 9408120268
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DEBBIE MESSINA, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines
Some city council members accuse colleague John D. Moss of trying to undermine council's wishes by lobbying on the federal level to kill the controversial Sandbridge beach replenishment project.
Although the majority of council voted in June to join the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the 50-year beach plan, Moss wrote to Washington officials on official city letterhead urging the deletion of Sandbridge from the budget.
In letters to Defense Secretary William J. Perry and Office of Management and Budget Director Leon E. Panetta, Moss charges the Sandbridge replenishment is a pork barrel project, the result of ``a partnership of political special interests'' and ``illustrates why we have a federal deficit.''
Most council members learned of Moss' campaign when copies of his letters were forwarded to the city manager by Congressman Owen B. Pickett.
``We're getting into values here, and my values say it's not honorable,'' said Councilwoman Louisa M. Strayhorn. ``There has to be respect for decisions.''
Strayhorn and Vice Mayor W.D. ``Will'' Sessoms are concerned about how Moss' letters reflect on the council.
Sessoms said Moss' action ``reinforces the division on council. . . . That's regrettable that we go out there and show there's a split like that.''
Some council members also didn't appreciate not having notice of the letters. ``Instead of trying to work things out with his peers, he goes over our heads,'' said Councilman John A. Baum. ``He does not seem to have much respect for the idea of teamwork.''
But Moss fervently stands behind his right to express his opinions even when contrary to council's official actions.
``It's a prerogative and right I have as a council person,'' Moss said. ``I spoke not for council but as an individual council member.''
Moss contends that others on council have clandestinely campaigned for personal causes.
He said that when the majority of council voted with him last year against the Sandbridge project, he didn't cry foul when some colleagues worked behind the scenes to revive it.
And, he said, he said nothing when individual council members appeared before the legislature last year to lobby for something (condemning private property for private purposes) council voted not to include in its legislative package.
``This is politics,'' Moss said. ``We're all big boys and big girls in a big game.''
Robert K. Dean and Barbara M. Henley both said they have no problem with Moss' actions because he never tried to disguise his personal views as the council's views.
``I have no problem with it as long as it's made clear that the council member is acting independently, which he did,'' Henley said.
The issue became a contentious subject during council's retreat last weekend. As a compromise, it was suggested that city letterhead not be used in such circumstances. But that did not satisfy everyone.
``I believe we came to a very strong impasse,'' said Mayor Meyera E. Oberndorf, who added that she always represents the majority vote on council despite her personal feelings. ``We agreed to disagree.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photos
``Instead of trying to work things out with his peers, he goes over
our heads. He does not seem to have much respect for the idea of
teamwork,'' John Baum, left, says of the letter by fellow councilman
John Moss, right.
KEYWORDS: VIRGINIA BEACH CITY COUNCIL
by CNB