THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 8, 1996 TAG: 9605080400
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A10D EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TONI WHITT, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
With tears in his eyes, J. Thomas Benn III called his victory bittersweet.
He stood next to Mayor Gloria O. Webb and his running mate, incumbent Councilman James C. Hawks - who both lost their seats - as he declared victory in his first try for office.
``I'm elated as the winner, but this was not the way it was supposed to turn out,'' Benn said ``I'm not happy about that.''
Benn later said he was frightened by the prospect of going in alone, but quickly recovered, saying he would use his skills as a facilitator to get the new council working together.
Incumbents Cameron C. Pitts and Bernard D. Griffin were re-elected to office.
Pitts was thrilled with the new council make-up, including the election of Mayor James W. Holley III.
``I advocate change,'' he said. ``I don't have a problem with that at all. I look forward to a less oppressive leadership in this city.''
Pitts said he plans to go forward with his idea of an ethics committee to keep an eye on council actions and other issues in the city.
Both Pitts and Griffin said they will continue to support Vision 2005, an economic development plan for the city that mayor-elect Holley has criticized on the campaign trail.
Pitts said he was representing the citizens as a whole, not a special interest.
``My victory sends the message just because you have money, you don't control our destiny,'' he said, aiming his comments at the Portsmouth Committee, a private pro-business group that supported him four years ago and abandoned him in this election.
Pitts said he would continue working to erect a carousel at the new Children's Museum.
``We haven't come up with anything better. And now we've eliminated one of the larger obstacles,'' Pitts said referring to Councilman James C. Hawks who said he would never vote for a carousel.
Councilman James T. Martin said he hopes the council will be able to continue on its path of bringing in economic development, rebuilding the city's finances and helping to improve the city's image. MEMO: Staff writers Janie Bryant and Rebecca A. Myers contributed to this
report.
KEYWORDS: PORTSMOUTH CITY COUNCIL RACE ELECTION RESULTS by CNB