THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Sunday, February 18, 1996              TAG: 9602160196
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN              PAGE: 10   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: By KATRICE FRANKLIN, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: SUFFOLK                            LENGTH: Medium:   56 lines

NO REST FOR THIS 76-YEAR-OLD ACTIVIST WHO SEEKS COUNCIL SEAT

With more than 40 years as an NAACP activist, 76-year-old Ted ``T.C.'' Williams could easily be relaxing in retirement.

Instead, the Suffolk native said, he has a lot more work to do and has decided to run for a seat on city council.

Fed up with the city's housing stock, and what he calls the council's neglect in revitalizing Suffolk neighborhoods, Williams said it's time for a change.

``Nobody seems to care,'' Williams said. ``I don't hear anything about what's going to be done to prevent homes from becoming dilapidated. I want to see the council look into taking charge of our housing authority.''

Williams also promises to look into how the council extends utilities.

``I have a serious problem with sewer lines going to areas like Smithfield and being proposed to go to Windsor and not here in the immediate city of Suffolk.''

Williams is the third candidate to announce for the Nansemond borough.

Incumbent Richard R. Harris is seeking re-election, and Housing Authority Chairman Leroy Bennett is also running.

Incumbant Marian ``Bea'' Rogers is being challenged by Bill Bishop in the Sleepy Hole borough.

Vice Mayor Curtis R. Milteer Sr. is running unopposed in Whaleyville borough. MEMO: City council candidates must obtain a candidacy packet from the State

Board of Elections in Richmond. It includes a declaration of candidacy,

a petition form _ on which candidates must obtain 125 signatures from

residents in the borough from which the candidate seeks election _ a

statement of economic interest and a candidate qualification form.

Anyone wishing to run for City Council or the School Board must be a

Suffolk resident living in the borough in which they are seeking

election, and must have lived in Virginia for a year prior to running

for election.

Also, a candidate must be at least 18 by the May 1996 election; be a

registered voter (felons or persons ever deemed mentally incompetent by

a court are forbidden to run); and be a U.S. citizen.

Candidacy packets must be filed with the registrar's office in

Suffolk by 7 p.m. March 5.

For more information, call the State Board of Elections in Richmond

at 1-800-552-9745.

ILLUSTRATION: T.C. Williams

KEYWORDS: SUFFOLK CITY COUNCIL ELECTION CANDIDATE by CNB