THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 8, 1996 TAG: 9605080577
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: AB10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ALEX MARSHALL, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines
Voters opted for a balance between aggressive downtown development and revitalizing the city's neighborhoods. Downtown retained a champion in Superward 6's Mason C. Andrews. Daun S. Hester, a moderate African American backed by the business establishment, became the newest member of the City Council. She will represent Superward 7.
Daun S. Hester, a moderate African American backed by the business establishment, became the newest member of the City Council Tuesday. The other winner was Councilman Mason C. Andrews, who easily held off three competitors to enter his 23rd year in office.
The victory of Andrews for Superward 6 and Hester for Superward 7 gives the council a new and an old face, and a degree of stability. Hester's victory continues the tradition of a retiring councilman, the Rev. Joseph N. Green Jr., a moderate African American with 20 years on the council and ties to the city's business communities.
This was Hester's third try for a council seat. She is the first woman since Councilwoman Betty Howell retired in 1992.
``I'm excited and ready,'' said Hester from her victory party in Poplar Hall. ``This election is about responsible leadership, rebuilding our communities, working for our children and bringing this city together from all fronts.''
Running in a field of six candidates, Hester won more than twice the votes of her two closest competitors. One was Horace T. ``Tommy'' White, a civic league president who some criticized for running because he was a Caucasian in a largely African-American district. White favored promoting small businesses and neighborhoods.
The other was William E. ``Wes'' Swindell Jr., a vocal candidate backed by councilmen Herbert M. Collins and Paul R. Riddick. Swindell's loss means these two councilmen failed to achieve a working majority of more grass-roots council members with few ties to the downtown business establishment.
Swindell's loss is good news for City Manager James B. Oliver. On Tuesday, Councilman Riddick pledged that he would have the votes to fire Oliver if Swindell won the election.
Hester preaches attention to neighborhoods, but also says she respects the aims of downtown development. An assistant principal at Rosemont Elementary, she says her priorities are communication, competence, children and community.
With about $30,000 in contributions, Hester outspent her rivals by big margins. The business community and West Side leaders largely financed her campaign; most of them do not live in Superward 7.
Andrews' easy victory shows the 22-year council veteran enjoys considerable support, despite or because of his strong support of the MacArthur Center mall and other downtown projects. Two of his opponents, Charles D. Grant and E. Toles Summers, opposed the mall. Grant, a former police chief, was Andrew's more serious competitor.
Superwards 6 and 7 each cover half the city. They were created in 1992 after a court case forced the city to drop its old at-large system. They contrast to the city's other five smaller wards, each of which covers a fifth of the city. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by RICHARD L. DUNSTON, The Virginian-Pilot
Daun S. Hester receives a victory buss from her husband Quincy at
her Poplar Halls headquarters Tuesday night. Hester defeated six
opponents to win the Superward 7 council seat. She is the first
woman on the council since Betty Howell retired in 1992.
KEYWORDS: NORFOLK CITY COUNCIL RACE ELECTION RESULTS by CNB