THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 14, 1996 TAG: 9603130102
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ALEX MARSHALL, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 103 lines
The best City Council candidate to represent Superward 7, a majority African-American district, should not be determined by the color of his skin, William E. Swindell Jr. said when announcing his candidacy for that seat.
Swindell said that the May 7 election should be determined by looking at who can best represent all the people in the district, which stretches from the Norfolk Naval Base to downtown and ranges from middle-class blacks and whites to poor blacks who live in public housing.
``That individual has to be able to move comfortably from neighborhood to neighborhood, embracing the diversity that makes Ward 7 so unique,'' Swindell said. ``I think this seat should be represented by the choice of the majority of the voters. We are not at the point where it can be represented by someone who has no idea about the hopes and aspirations of the people.''
Swindell said that individual is not Horace T. ``Tommy'' White, president of the Norfolk Federation of Civic Leagues, who is white and has entered the race. Although he gave no proof, Swindell said White was seeking to win the seat by skimming the vote of white citizens in a crowded field of black candidates.
Nor is Daun S. Hester, assistant principal at Rosemont Middle School, the right candidate, Swindell said. By taking thousands of dollars in past races from establishment business interests, Hester was giving signs that she was a captive of interests outside the district, he said.
But the campaign ``transcended race,'' Swindell said. He pointed out that the black community had several times in recent years supported white candidates over black candidates, such as when Rep. Owen B. Pickett ran against a black Republican.
Swindell's remarks at first appeared to put him at odds with hose of Councilmen Paul R. Riddick and Herbert M. Collins Sr., who stood beside Swindell when he announced his candidacy at the United House of Prayer at Princess Anne Road and Church Street.
Riddick and Collins have said non-minority candidates should not run for this seat that they say was designed for African Americans.
Hester responded to Swindell's criticism by saying that all candidates should pledge to refrain from negative attacks and allow voters to select the best candidate. She also noted that she received many smaller donations in her past campaigns from everyday black citizens.
``I want to be that voice on council that will bring consensus because that is the only way we are going to get something done,'' Hester said.
Swindell was active in the cause that helped create Superward 7 - the federal lawsuit against the city that charged that the old at-large system diluted black voting strength. After almost a decade in court, the Supreme Court agreed with Swindell and other plaintiffs, and the new ward system went into effect in 1992.
The amoeba-shaped district includes Poplar Hall, Sherwood Forest, parts of Norview, Coronado, Green Hill Farms, Lafayette-Winona, Park Place, Lamberts Point and most public housing areas.
Swindell suggested he would work to replace City Manager James B. Oliver if elected. Swindell said that Oliver has withheld information from both the council and citizens.
``Good government and open government should not be in open opposition,'' Swindell said. ``The city manager has kept us at arms length for too long.''
Riddick and Collins say they shared some of Swindell's criticism of Oliver, if not Swindell's open endorsement of removing Oliver.
Swindell said he would work for a partnership between citizens and city government that would reduce crime, increase employment and improve housing.
An official with STOP, the non-profit agency involved with a variety of efforts to help poorer citizens, Swindell has been involved in political and civic affairs for two decades. He ran unsuccessfully for the General Assembly in the early 1980s.
He joins what has become a crowded field for the seat that is now held by the Rev. Joseph N. Green, who is retiring. Along with Swindell, White and Hester, also running are Daniel E. Montague, H. Marks Richard and Algie T. Howell Jr. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
Photo
``WES'' SWINDELL JR.
Office sought: City Council seat, Superward 7.
Occupation: Employed by STOP; former Navy officer.
Age: 47.
Education: bachelor's degree, Hampton University; graduate of
Crestwood High School in Chesapeake.
Community service: active in campaigns to create ward system,
single-member legislative districts and in referendum campaigns
against Nauticus and Harbor Park; mayor's task force on public
housing; Concerned Citizens for Political Education; Lindenwood
Civic League; All-America City Committee; on executive board of
Coalition for Quality Public Education.
SUPERWARD 7
The candidates:
Daun S. Hester
Algie T. Howell Jr.
Daniel E. Montague
H. Marks Richard
William E. Swindell Jr.
Horace T. ``Tommy'' White
KEYWORDS: NORFOLK CITY COUNCILMANIC RACE CANDIDATES
SUPERWARD 7 by CNB