THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, October 24, 1995 TAG: 9510240001
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 40 lines
WANTED: City manager. Must be spineless. Must have no vision (unless provided by City Council) and no sense of responsibility to the residents of the city he will serve (except to the City Council members, who think they are the city). If you meet the above requirements, slither into the vice mayor's office and apply.
This would be the logical want ad for replacement of Chesapeake's longtime city manager, James Rein. Since he had none of the above-listed qualifications, a majority of council voted to terminate his contract.
In a blatant display of political posturing, Vice Mayor Robert Nance guaranteed a rebate on the brine solution the city passes off as water, when Mr. Rein's budget director stated the obvious: that rebates were unwise and could have sour fiscal consequences for the city.
Mr. Nance began what smacks of ex-Vice Mayor Arthur Dwyer's methods: He began back-room scheming and secret meetings to gain the votes he needed to oust Rein.
As Councilman W. Joe Newman so accurately stated, ``It became very clear to me that we needed to make a culture change, and that's what we're doing.''
Citizens of Chesapeake, remember that at the polls come November and May, and let's make our own culture change. Let's forget partisan party politics and put someone on council that has Chesapeake's interests first and foremost, not as an aside to what's good for the party.
I am grateful to Mr. Rein for his service. May he now enjoy a well-deserved rest from the insanity that is Chesapeake city management.
BRAD STANFIELD
Chesapeake, Oct. 20, 1995 by CNB