THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 17, 1994 TAG: 9411170509
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MAC DANIEL, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Short : 49 lines
Two proposed changes in the City Charter were quickly withdrawn by the City Council Wednesday night after speakers criticized the proposals as racist.
The changes - one to allow the citywide election of the mayor, and the other to allow citizens to hold advisory referendums - were criticized by six speakers because they would have required the city to reduce its seven boroughs to six.
``Now, somebody is playing politics in this game,'' John Riddick told the council. ``Someone is wielding a dagger to thrust between your ribs.''
Suffolk last adopted a redistricting plan in 1991, abandoning the old six-borough system and creating seven boroughs, three of them with black-majority populations.
Paul C. Gillis, president of the Suffolk chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, threatened to go to the U.S. Justice Department if the council approved the new proposals.
``No, no,'' Gillis said. ``You will not tinker with this. There will be retribution at the polls. There will be retribution in Richmond.''
Gillis lives in Nansemond Borough, which is 60 percent black. He is a frequent critic of Councilman Richard Harris, who has unsuccessfully sponsored the two charter changes for the last three years. Harris is up for re-election next year.
``I've never been comfortable with council electing the mayor,'' Harris said. ``The mayor does in fact represent the entire city, and I thought the citizens should have the opportunity to elect that position.''
Harris said he planned to propose the charter changes again next year.
The changes would reduce the number of boroughs in Suffolk from seven to six and create an at-large election for mayor. Currently, the City Council chooses the mayor.
Vice Mayor Curtis Milteer said the changes would increase each borough's size from about 7,400 voters to about 8,600.
``We're dislocating 1,200 voters through this process,'' Milteer said before suggesting that the items be removed for further study.
``We have good race relations in Suffolk,'' Riddick said. ``Now, let's not go backward. Let's move forward.''
KEYWORDS: SUFFOLK CITY COUNCIL
by CNB