THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 12, 1995 TAG: 9511100191
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANCIE LATOUR, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines
It has almost become a script: Political turmoil erupts; council members castigate one another; citizens watch, appalled by the maneuvers; someone extends an olive branch; council members pledge to move forward with the business of the city. And then turmoil erupts again.
Voters Tuesday vested Dwight M. Parker, high school government teacher and lifelong Chesapeake resident, with one great hope: that he will not only be a balm on the dais, but can add a sense of focus that will keep his future colleagues fixed on some basic goals many believe have eluded them. Among them, providing leadership and setting consistent, long-term policy.
But can one man restore reason to a council that has made rancor virtually a tradition?
``Parker will certainly add to the enhancement of decorum, as opposed to the deterioration of it,'' said Mayor William E. Ward.
But even as he welcomed a fellow educator, African-American and Democrat, Ward said Parker's learning curve would have to be a steep one if he is to be an effective addition to the panel.
``There are lots of things he needs to catch up on,'' Ward said. ``He's coming in on a time when we will be moving into deliberations on operating and capital budgets for 1996 and, of course, the search for a city manager. . . . The first test he will face is voting on the legislative package.''
The City Council will deliberate on the annual package to its state representatives on Tuesday night, when Parker is expected to be sworn in and take his seat.
Ward said he is confident Parker can absorb the complexities surrounding Chesapeake's rapid growth, road problems and growing schools because he has confronted some of these issues from a grassroots point of view. Even Republicans who heavily supported former council member Dalton S. Edge agreed.
``He brings to the table a lot of positive things,'' said Vice Mayor Robert T. Nance Jr. ``I can work with the will of the people. Whoever the folks put on there I will work with as hard as I can. Anyone who's not excited with the will of the people, they better get out of the way of politics.''
Indeed, Republicans may have no choice but to accept Parker's victory as a lesson that many voters will not tolerate some of what the present council calls ``doing the city's business.''
``I think that the sitting council . . . they haven't been particularly concerned with the issues that the people are concerned with, and that's what troubles me,'' said Beatrice A. Hudson, president of the Chesapeake Democratic Women and longtime civic activist.
``And that's where I would expect or hope that Mr. Parker would focus, more on getting the government to take into consideration what the people of the city would like to see done with their city.
``I think Dwight Parker is the beginning. People are now taking an interest in what happens on council, and I believe that people are looking for change. the citizens.' ''
``He's only one person; but we do hope that he will be able to bring about some reason.'' by CNB