THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 8, 1996 TAG: 9605080401
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: AE10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TERRI WILLIAMS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
The Nansemond Borough, redistricted several years ago to gain black representation, finally got its first black councilman. Leroy Bennet beat Housing and Redevelopment Chairman Richard Harris. Voters returned Marian Rogers to her Sleepy Hole seat.
The Nansemond Borough was redrawn in 1991 to increase black representation on the City Council. On Tuesday, African Americans finally got what they'd fought for: Leroy Bennett, a black, upset white incumbent councilman Richard R. Harris.
Harris' narrow victory in 1992 over Mary V. Richardson, a black, upset many in the black community, including Suffolk-Nansemond NAACP President Paul C. Gillis.
Tuesday they got their wish in the election of Bennett, chairman of the Redevelopment and Housing Authority. Bennett won 56 percent of the vote.
In other Suffolk City Council races, Sleepy Hole Borough Councilwoman Marian ``Bea'' Rogers retained her seat, winning 62 percent of the vote against former city Airport Director William B. Bishop. Whaleyville Borough Councilman Curtis R. Milteer ran unopposed.
The biggest upset was clearly Harris'. It was a strange turn of events: when Harris was first elected he named Bennett to the authority.
At Union Local 26 on East Washington Street, Bennett's campaign workers danced to the ``Electric Slide'' and munched on chicken and rolls. They said old-fashioned grass roots campaigning propelled the housing chairman to the council.
``It was a good race. It was a clean race,'' Bennett said. ``I wish Mr. Harris well.''
Bennett garnered his biggest percentages in the predominantly black precincts of Hollywood and racially mixed Nansemond River. Harris won the mostly white precincts, Lake Meade and Elephant's Fork. Bennett said the contest wasn't about race. The Nansemond Borough is 60 percent black and 40 percent white.
``I think people were ready for a change,'' Bennett said. ``I don't think race played a part in it.''
Campaign workers also downplayed race. Former Suffolk Mayor Johnnie Mizelle said: ``One of the newspapers asked if a white councilman can a represent a black borough. The answer is yes, but not Richard Harris.''
A somber crowd gathered at Bunny's Restaurant to listen to Harris concede. Harris blamed his loss for his vote supporting the industrial race track and his combative personality.
``I'm not surprised at what happened,'' he said with tears streaming down his face. ``I am outspoken and I'm abrasive. I'm not ashamed of that. I rub some people the wrong way.''
Bennett's win means the Redevelopment and Housing Authority is without both a chairman and a director. Bennett said Tuesday night that he didn't know whether the authority would appoint a new chairman or elect one.
In Sleepy Hole, one of the fastest growing boroughs, residents don't want additional taxation to support development.
Indeed, some of Rogers supporters - including her former campaign manager Talmadge C. Jones - jumped political ships because the councilwoman supported a tax increment financing district in the northern end. Jones, a grass roots activist, backed Bishop. In addition, Bishop has filed a $21 million suit against the city.
But Rogers seemed unfazed by all the political activity Tuesday.
``I don't hold grudges,'' said Rogers from her victory party at George and Steve's Steakhouse.
``The voters wanted someone who was forthright and honest, and I plan to continue to work hard.'' MEMO: Staff writer Katrice Franklin contributed to this report.
ILLUSTRATION: Photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II, The Virginian-Pilot
Marian ``Bea'' Rogers, left, here congratulated by supporter Jan
Bryant, retained her Sleepy Hole Borough council seat.
KEYWORDS: SUFFOLK CITY COUNCIL RACE ELECTION RESULTS by CNB