THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, August 18, 1995                TAG: 9508180436
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B7   EDITION: FINAL 
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH                         LENGTH: Short :   23 lines

PUBLIC RELATIONS DIRECTOR GOING

Eight months after signing on to improve the city's image, Michael Stephens has resigned as Portsmouth's public relations chief.

Stephens is leaving to join his wife in Savannah, where she was transferred with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Stephens, a former marketing manager with the California State Lottery, was hired after a four-month search.

``As far as I know, we'll fill the post,'' said Mayor Gloria O. Webb. ``He came in and got right to work, he wrote a public relations plan for the city.''

Webb said the council plans to talk to interim City Manager Ronald W. Massie about replacing Stephens. by CNB