THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 26, 1996 TAG: 9609260001
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A15 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: OPINION
SOURCE: By Patrick Lackey
LENGTH: 80 lines
Retired Norfolk advertising executive J. Daniel Ballard views Hampton Roads as a dysfunctional family.
Were it functional as a family, Virginia Beach water problems would have been solved, light rail would be on the way, the search for a professional sports team would be progressing, companies paying high wages could be recruited, and so on.
In short, this would be a better place to live and work. Fewer talented people would leave in search of decent-paying jobs.
What we have, according to an economic index created by Virginia Wesleyan College economics professor David Garraty, is trouble, right here in whatever this region is called.
Garraty's most-recent report shows that the Hampton Roads economy faltered in July for the third month in a row. Employment in five of seven major job categories dropped from June to July.
Because the military here is no longer the eight-cylinder economic engine that roared in the '80s, the region is growing in the '90s at one-fourth its '80s rate. Hampton Roads is growing at half the state rate, which itself is below the national average.
Hampton Roads manufacturing employment is down more than 12 percent in the past six years. Government employment is down 6 percent over the past three years. Even the good news is bad news. While construction is up, the increase has yet to make up for the 25 percent drop from 1987 to 1992. Construction remains 7 percent below 1987 levels.
``The next recession is likely to hit us harder than in the past,'' Garraty said. ``If you use my numbers, it almost looks like we're there.''
He said there's a better than 50-50 chance Hampton Roads will suffer a recession, even if the nation dodges one.
``I don't see a lot of stimulus there,'' he said.
What's the solution?
``In the old days,'' Garraty said, ``we could afford the lack of regional cooperation. We all had military bases. Just about every municipality did. We all could grow together. But those days are behind us now.
``The region needs to begin thinking as a unity, as an entity. Our problems, like water and transportation, are regional in nature and require regional solutions.''
That's where Ballard comes in. Since last spring, he has been an evangelist for regionalism, delivering pessimistic sermons to Optimist Clubs or anyone else ready to listen.
What stands in the way of our region's progress, preaches Ballard, is petty politicians squabbling over petty issues.
Ballard, 63, has learned more than most about intercity squabbling.
A heart transplant in 1991 led to his retirement as chair and CEO of a 150-employee ad agency that he'd co-founded. Since retiring, he has helped the American Heart Association, Operation Smile and others.
In 1993 he spearheaded a Norfolk tourism-marketing effort called ``Virginia Waterfront,'' which is continuing. Although it successfully promotes Hampton Roads tourism destinations, it has little support outside Norfolk.
``Each community,'' he said, ``is jealous about another community getting more. Williamsburg doesn't want to send tourists to the Beach. It wants to keep them there. The jealousies are so short-sighted it's almost laughable.
``I was painfully surprised by the degree of enmity, the degree of hostility between these associations within the hospitality industry. And then the politicians who always publicly say they are in favor of regionalism, when you ask them to put their money up, they say, `Absolutely not.' ''
What Hampton Roads needs, according to Ballard, is elected local officials who think regionally, who cooperate across city lines.
``Citizens,'' he said, ``should demand, insist and know that candidates are looking at the good of the region as a whole.''
In time for local elections in the spring of 1998, Ballard plans to rate local candidates according to their positions on regionalism. A rating of one would mean the candidate is an isolationist. A ten would mark the candidate as a true regionalist. A score of six would be passing.
His rating job won't be easy, since many politicians offer lip service to regionalism while pursuing far different courses. He plans to recruit people who know the different cities to help him, so candidates can be judged on what they've done, as well as on what they say.
Most will flunk, he predicted. He'll support candidates who pass. MEMO: Mr. Lackey is an editorial writer for The Virginian-Pilot.
KEYWORDS: REGIONALISM by CNB