THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, May 4, 1996 TAG: 9605040360
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Charlise Lyles
LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines
Being a resident of Norfolk is so dull this election eve. I wish I could move to Portsmouth until midnight Wednesday. Then I could join in all the excitement.
Mainly, the mayoral race.
Incumbent Gloria O. Webb faces former Mayor James W. Holley III, who was ejected from office nine years ago after being implicated in a hate-mail scandal. Frank Harte is the third contender. But even he concedes that the real competition is between Webb and Holley.
With that ballot beneath my stylus, I would need to do some mighty deep soul searching and re-soul searching.
Webb has shown diligence and acumen in her two terms as mayor. She made being mayor a full-time job. She has taken heat for unpopular decisions.
Still, the schools are troubled, and economic development is drastically needed.
Now, some of those who once sought to oust Holley are standing behind him. Things were great when. . . , they say. Taxes were lower when . . . , they say.
Perhaps they are in a nostalgic trance brought on by increasingly hard times for all America's cities, regardless of who sits at City Hall.
Holley has not exactly been on a phoenix trajectory since his days as mayor. He has lost two bids for state election.
But he still has the drive to run for office. He says he still is committed to hard work.
And he still got that cool ride with the license plates that keep heads turning his way. ``Hizonor.'' The silver Corvette and vanity tags symbolize the essential differences between Webb and Holley, style and charisma.
There is one other essential difference.
Holley is running on the forgiveness ticket. He denies allegations that he sent hate mail nine years ago to those who opposed the closing of the old I.C. Norcom High School. However, Holley owns up to charges of lavish spending to lure businesses.
But the recall was, to some extent, a conviction on all accounts, guilty or not.
Holley has maintained his innocence, always pointing out that his fingerprints were found on only two of the 48 letters. And some of those who once implicated him now say they were wrong.
Will Holley relapse into lavish travel spending and partying that got him into trouble? He promises not to.
So why not forgive and re-elect Holley?
Well, the problem is, Mayor Webb is a good woman. She has had her slips on the city manager pension issue, and she's guilty of a glib tongue (nice to know we have something in common).
Yet she has motivated a swirl of citizen activity aimed at further revitalizing the city. She has seen the city through some tough economic times. Doesn't she deserve to lead it through the better ones that may be on the horizon?
On second thought, I'm glad I don't live in Portsmouth. I'd probably get stuck in the voting booth on Tuesday, totally torn between candidates.
So I'll be voting in good old Norfolk where things are dull but easy to decide. ILLUSTRATION: Photos
Mayor Gloria O. Webb
James W. Holley III
KEYWORDS: PORTSMOUTH MAYOR'S RACE by CNB