THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 25, 1994 TAG: 9408250837
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover story
SOURCE: BY TONY WHARTON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 137 lines
HE IS A WEST SIDE resident and lawyer with working-class roots. He was on the City Council that fought wards, yet he owes his new title to the ward system. He's a military-school graduate leading a city away from its long dependence on the Navy.
Paul D. Fraim, in all his complexity, is Norfolk's mayor.
At 44, he is the city's youngest mayor in at least a decade. He has four children in Norfolk's public schools; the two youngest, twins, are 7.
Perhaps it is no surprise, then, that a little more passion enters Fraim's even, reasonable voice when he talks about the city's schools and children.
``The city has reached for greatness in a lot of ways,'' he said. ``I would like to see Norfolk reach for greatness in its school system.
``I'm sort of big on children's issues, anyway. If you take care of the children, you probably wind up taking care of everything else, it seems to me.''
By that he means, better schools not only produce smarter children, they attract more job-producing industry. Parks and recreation programs not only give children a place to play, they help prevent juvenile crime.
Fraim's own childhood was spent in Riverview, a neighborhood of turn-of-the-century houses tucked into a curve of the Lafayette River. His family's home was a few blocks from his father's florist shop on Granby Street.
``I spent a lot of time playing in what we called `City Park' then, it's Lafayette Park now, and in Ocean View,'' he said.
Fraim graduated from Norfolk Catholic High School and went on to earn degrees at Virginia Military Institute, the University of Virginia, and University of Richmond law school.
He is president of the Norfolk law firm of Heilig, McKenry, Fraim and Lollar, and lives in Larchmont with his wife, Beth, and their children, Annie, 11; Katie, 10; and twins Richard and David.
In 1986 Fraim was elected to the City Council when all the seats were still chosen at-large, by the entire city, and most of the council members were from the West Side.
A successful lawsuit brought by black leaders and decided by the U.S. Supreme Court forced the city to split into wards for each council seat. Some senior council members had to step aside, and Fraim became councilman for Ward 2. It is anchored by Ghent and downtown, then jogs over Granby Street to cover his old neighborhood and reaches north to include Bayview.
By the early 1990s, under the tutelage of Mayor Joseph Leafe, Fraim had become one of the council's leaders. He was given responsiblity for supervising the construction of Harbor Park and negotiating Norfolk's new water contract with Virginia Beach.
In 1992, upon Leafe's retirement, Fraim vied with veteran council members Mason C. Andrews and Joseph N. Green to become mayor. Andrews was selected.
This year, however, council dynamics shifted away from the old guard. In 1992 and 1994, three young council members were added from the wards. One of them, Councilman Randy Wright from Ocean View, is Fraim's political ally. Wright formed a voting bloc on the council with Paul R. Riddick and Herbert M. Collins, and they backed Fraim for mayor.
When Andrews conceded a few days before the selection, Fraim's victory was assured.
``I don't think it sank in for a while,'' he said. ``Actually, the first time it really hit me was when somebody put a set of keys in my hand.''
The keys were to City Hall, which Fraim has seen an awful lot of since July 1.
``I told Joe and Mason that I didn't appreciate them enough,'' Fraim said. ``I was unprepared for the volume of work and the level of detail the mayor is expected to absorb himself in.
``There is a certain amount of self-doubt, too. You know, asking, am I really up to this?''
The job has wrenched him away from his law practice, putting him in the mayor's office at 7:30 a.m. almost every day.
``The meetings start at 7:30 and they just go on and on,'' he said. ``I've found myself almost chained to the desk. I go from the mayor's office to the manager's office and the conference room, and that's it.''
That will change, Fraim promised. He is known for his ceaseless visits to civic league meetings and community functions, and he thinks it's more important than ever as mayor.
``Citizens ask you about their streets and things like that, but they also just want you to be there,'' he said. ``The mayor has to be accessible.''
Besides, Fraim said, he likes visiting the neighborhoods.
``One of the great things about this city is that it's so diverse,'' he said. ``Each of the neighborhoods has its own culture in a way you don't find in the suburbs.''
Fraim is committed to carrying out the Norfolk 2000 development plan for downtown, but it has caused resentment in some areas, and he acknowledged Norfolk has to work on that.
``There needs to be a balance maintained between developing our economy and doing good things in the neighborhoods,'' he said. ``People need to feel that's happening.''
Among Fraim's goals for the city are:
A ``world-class'' zoo in Lafayette Park, a project now in its infancy.
A big league, professional sports franchise for Hampton Roads. ``It's not necessarily a money-maker by itself, but it puts the region on another level, where it should be,'' he said.
Riverboat gambling on the Norfolk waterfront. While Fraim acknowledges everyone is not yet behind that, he said, ``I'm resolved in my mind that gaming is coming to Virginia at some point, and Norfolk has got to play a role. We are perfectly situated.''
Given the chance, Fraim is pleased to admiringly describe the city as he sees it.
``Norfolk is a great blend of hardworking blue-collar types and dedicated professionals,'' he said. ``It's still a good place to raise a family.
``It has great compassion and great giving spirit. It has accomplished more than it had a right to expect. This is a city you can love.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff color photo by PAUL AIKEN
Mayor Paul D. Fraim, who supervised the construction of Harbor Park,
throws out the first ball during a recent Norfolk Tides game. [This
photo appeared on page one]
Staff photos by RICHARD L. DUNSTON
Fraim has seen a lot of City Hall since July 1. He's in his office
by 7:30 a.m. almost every day.
Fraim was elected to council in 1986.
Norfolk Mayor Paul D. Fraim, 44, laughs at a joke made by Vice Mayor
Paul Riddick at a City Council meeting. Seated beside Fraim is
former Mayor Mason Andrews.
Mayor Fraim, right, and Andrews listen as a city resident expresses
concerns during a council meeting. Fraim's goals for Norfolk include
``a world class'' zoo, a professional sports franchise and riverboat
gambling.
KEYWORDS: PROFILE BIOGRAPHY MAYOR NORFOLK by CNB