THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 23, 1996 TAG: 9602210177
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TONI WHITT, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 92 lines
Changes in the city and an enthusiastic citizenry prompted Gloria O. Webb to announce that she is running for a third term as mayor.
Webb said she struggled with the decision but realized that she wants to lead the city in meeting some of its goals and creating a better place to live.
She said she will continue to build on work that she has done in her past two terms as mayor.
``My priorities really do not change from year to year,'' Webb said.
Webb said that economic development is at the top of her agenda and that she hopes to have the city hire someone to recruit small businesses and work on retaining existing businesses.
She said the new Children's Museum and the Tidewater Community College Visual Arts Center both have helped bring new business to the downtown.
While she is pleased with the city's successes, she said, there's still more work to be done.
``As mayor, I cannot be proud that we have the highest homicide rate in Hampton Roads, but City Council working with the chief of police and commonwealth attorney has taken steps to combat high crime,'' she said.
Last year, the council voted to hire 21 additional police officers. The city also boasts 51 neighborhood watches and neighborhood policing in two areas of the city.
Webb said that during her tenure, she has opened up the mayor's office, making it accessible to all citizens ``through discussion groups, task forces and roundtable discussions.''
``I will continue to provide opportunities for our citizens from all walks of life to sit down together for discussions of mutual concern,'' she added.
She also pledged to give city employees a 3 percent pay increase, to provide more recreation opportunities throughout the city and to name a historic resources commission.
Webb said she also would like to see a new public library in Churchland.
She said the library could be built at the Hannaford Brothers shopping center site as a buffer to the Woodbine neighborhood. Her idea is to have the developers build the library and then lease it to the city.
``Most of us know the Churchland Library is woefully inadequate,'' Webb said. ``It has the highest circulation in a much too small facility.''
Webb said Portsmouth is now on an upswing.
``As stockholders of this city, you deserve effective, efficient government, safe neighborhoods and quality services,'' she said.
A 22-year-old supermarket worker is Webb's only announced opposition so far.
Kendrick Turner announced Tuesday that he is running for the mayor's seat. ``There's a few changes that need to be done and I'm ready to make those changes,'' Turner said. ``Something definitely needs to be done about the drug community.''
Turner, who is a Norfolk native, was graduated from Maury High School. He currently lives in the Lincoln Park section of the city.
``I am a good person, kind to people, always honest, don't lie, and don't steal,'' Turner said. ``Things that need to be done, I can get done.''
This is Turner's first run for office. In order to get on the ballot, Turner needs 125 signatures on a petition. On Tuesday, he had only 17 signatures.
City Council and School Board elections will be held May 7. The filing deadline is 7 p.m. March 5. MEMO: WANT TO RUN?
All 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 areas in which candidates seek
election, a statement of economic interest and a candidate qualification
form.
Persons wishing to run for City Council or the School Board must be
residents living in the city in which they are seeking election, and
must have lived in Virginia for a year prior to running for election
Persons running for office in Suffolk must obtain the signatures from
residents of borough in which they reside and are seeking office.
Additionally 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 by 7 p.m.
March 5.
For more information, call the State Board of Elections in Richmond
at 1-800-552-9745. ILLUSTRATION: Mayor Gloria Webb
Running for re-election
Kendrick Turner
Entering mayoral race
by CNB