THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 2, 1995 TAG: 9510310076
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Long : 139 lines
Let's look at the positives
Recently, as I prepared to go to work, I saw a political advertisement for a group of Republican candidates. I am sure that many have seen this text-only ad that delineates all that is ``wrong'' with the city of Norfolk. I was very disturbed by the tone and implications of this message.
On a simple level it would seem that it would better serve those interested in making informed choices in the coming election, not to list problems but to offer solutions. On another level, it may be true that some of the things being criticized as signs of bad government are actually symptoms of either situations beyond local control (like downsizing the Navy) or of inherent problems in any city the size of Norfolk.
Oversimplifying the issues stated in making a political case can only serve to confuse voters and appear to indicate a lack of regard for the intelligence of the electorate.
My personal reaction was initially one of resentment. I came to Norfolk in 1976, bought a home a year later in an integrated neighborhood where everyone knows all of their neighbors and the sense of community is exceptionally strong.
I have watched the downtown waterfront change from an area of blight to a fine tourist and local attraction. I wonder how someone who has visited the Norfolk zoo lately, who has eaten a bagel on Main Street in the shadow of the Marriott Hotel or attended a ballgame at Harbor Park could see our city in such a negative light.
When graduates of our public high schools are attending universities at every level, when the Naval Base has been chosen to be the hub of military activity for the East Coast, when one drives across the Campostella Bridge and observes the renovation of Diggs Town, when there are so many entertainment and cultural events at such great facilities as the Chrysler Museum, the Harrison Opera House and Chrysler Hall that it is impossible to take it all in a negative thing in one shallow sound bite.
Certainly there are problems such as crime, population distribution, education delivery and most other areas that all cities are having to cope with. Look around, identify those areas you care about and check the facts on how our city is dealing with those issues. If there's someone out there who is offering viable solutions to those problems, vote for that candidate.
I would hope that those who would only point out the negatives without a discussion of how those problems can be eliminated will find that voters who truly care about the entire city of Norfolk will not allow such candidates to serve.
Chris Tompkins
Columbus Avenue In support of Teich
I support Albert Teich for clerk of Norfolk Circuit Court.
Mr. Teich is the candidate of experience. He is a lawyer of many years standing, with a fine reputation. He is professor emeritus of business law at Old Dominion University, and he served as a member of the state legislature. He will bring all of this to the position.
E.W. Michaels
College Cross Other side of the story
I beg to differ with my friend, John Padgett of the Norfolk Republican Party and his version of the selection of candidates for Clerk of Court. There are two sides to every story and I hope, once and for all, the Democrats can present their side of what really happened.
The current clerk, Bill Ryan, told everyone for two years he was retiring. There was a Democrat prepared to run as the party's nominee. But when Mr. Ryan could not make up his mind, this Democrat decided not to run. At that time Republicans were coming to Randy Wright to ask him to run. They may not have been the few members of John Padgett's committee, but they definitely were active in the party. They even outlined their strategy for running against Mr. Ryan.
At a Democratic city committee meeting in January (which I attended), Mr. Ryan announced that he had not made up his mind whether to run, or if so, whether to run as a Democrat or not. Many members urged Mr. Ryan to run and promised their support.
Under state law, as an incumbent, Mr. Ryan could choose the method used to nominate him - primary or caucus. He chose the primary, an open process where anyone can file and run. Mr. Ryan chose not to run, and Randy Wright did. It was only when Randy Wright decided to run as a Democrat that the Republicans had to scramble and find another candidate. Perhaps Randy Wright did not like what the Republican Party of Norfolk was up to.
Are the Republicans, who accuse the Democrats of building a political machine, not building their own? Come on. What is the purpose of political parties? And while the Republicans chose a caucus as their method of nomination, apparently the only candidates ``allowed'' to run were those chosen by the few members of Mr. Padgett's committee. George Schaefer, the Republican chairman, tried to talk Republican candidates into stepping down. Isn't that big-boss arm-twisting politics? A friend of mine attended the Republican caucus and walked out after seeing the control by the Christian Coalition. The Republicans want to keep politics out of government? What about George Schaefer who is running the Republican party machinery out of the sheriff's office?
Randy Wright offers unique and valuable qualifications as a candidate for clerk of court. He is a businessman and knows the importance of satisfied customers. As a member of City Council and the State Board of Commerce he understands state and local government issues and how to manage an office. The clerk of court is just that - an administrator.
Barbara Hickey
Secretary,
Norfolk City Democratic Committee The facts on Nauticus
Obviously, guest columnist Bill Reed (``Museum's a success, why not Nauticus?'' Compass, Oct. 12) does not let the facts stand in his way.
Just one month prior to Reed's irresponsible column attacking Nauticus, a well-documented, thoughtful story (`Nauticus: Higher Standards? Sept. 10) reported facts.
Reed's errors include stating that ``Nauticus ... bombed from the start. Attendance was dismally low ...'' In the seven months of 1994 that Nauticus was open to the public, with an additional month open for school tours, there were 436,000 visitors, a number that compares quite favorably with other science centers/museums around the country. That's according to Ellen Griffie with the national office of the Association of Science and Technology Centers, of which Nauticus is a member.
Another error of Reed's is stating that the Virginia Marine Science Museum ``pays for itself.'' Just check out the aforementioned article of Sept. 10 written by Alex Marshall that stated that every day, on the average, Virginia Beach taxpayers paid $2,740 to support the Virginia Marine Science Museum. Reed could check with the City of Virginia Beach Budget Department for the details. Yet he states that Virginia Beach taxpayers make no contribution to keep their museum going.
His column could be misconstrued as alluding to competition between Nauticus and the Virginia Marine Science Museum, when staff at both fine facilities, as well as staff at each city's Convention and Visitors Bureau, promote the other city's museum. Tourists visiting one are told of the value of the other.
The staff of Nauticus and the members of the Board of Commissioners of the National Maritime Center Authority are proud of this outstanding and remarkable facility. To see it so maligned by an opinion piece devoid of truth demanded a response.
Sara H. Lowe
Nauticus public relations manager by CNB