THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc. DATE: Thursday, May 9, 1996 TAG: 9605090381 SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL SOURCE: BY TONI WHITT, STAFF WRITER DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
Dr. James W. Holley III, mayor-elect, is ready to pass the collection plate at area churches to ensure the salvation of this historic city.
Holley said Wednesday that even before he is sworn in as mayor, he intends to meet with the area's ministers and ask them to start paying for city services. It's not a tax, rather it's a voluntary payment in lieu of taxes, he said.
``Churches have resources,'' Holley said. ``They implement their own projects and tell people it's best for their salvation.
``Some people think we ought to stay away from co-mingling church and state, but I'm of the opinion when things deteriorate, I don't see anything wrong with going to the churches,'' he added. ``Citizens go to church. That entity might have to turn back and help the citizens - other than in the conventional ways.''
Holley, 69, never one for convention, will return to office July 1 already having tried a number of novel ideas.
In addition to soliciting from the churches, Holley said he plans to ask businesses to make a one-time donation to expand the city's auxiliary police force. The business donation would ``uniform and get armament'' for that force,'' Holley said.
``That will help free up the real crime fighters,'' he said. ``I don't think we can get too many of them, and businesses need to realize their success and retention is predicated on keeping crime in control.''
Holley said he plans to spend the next several weeks meeting with business leaders and preachers to pitch his ideas.
During his campaign, Holley said he also plans to hold the police accountable.
Charles Whitehurst, the former city treasurer who worked on Holley's campaign, said the mayor-elect is ``going to directly involve himself with oversight of those offices responsible for crime.
``He's going to be looking at them and call them into public session and say `explain yourself,' '' Whitehurst added.
Once in office, Holley said, his first goal will be to get economic development rolling.
``The first thing we've got to do is bring in business,'' Holley said. ``That will instantly resolve crime problems. Some of the crime we have today ensued because we lost business. People didn't have jobs.''
Holley said it's going to take the entire community to solve Portsmouth's problems.
``Other than me being elected, there's not much good you can say about Portsmouth right now,'' Holley said Wednesday. ``We don't feel good about ourselves right now. We've got to get everybody to come to the table. The voters selected me because I was good at that before.''
Holley said he will recruit new businesses from the 6th floor of City Hall, rather than traveling and throwing lavish parties as he did a decade ago.
He said he would turn to friends such as former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder for help in finding businesses to locate in the city.
Holley said he has friends all over the country and that he will especially rely on his friend, ``President Clinton,'' to provide federal funding to relieve the city's financial problems.
``I'm going to get it because I'm assertive, I'm aggressive. I'm a Sagitarian,'' Holley said.
Maury Cooke, another Holley supporter, said he believes the mayor-elect will bring the city together and will be a master at selling a rosy future for Portsmouth to citizens and outsiders alike. He believes Holley will revive a once-strong retail industry in Portsmouth.
Holley said one of his most noticeable tactics will be for the city to start celebrating more. Whitehurst said plans are underway for something akin to an inaugural day festival for July 1.
``I think we need more festivals,'' Holley said. ``People feel good about each other when they get together. We need to get some traffic here, and when they come, show them we have something to offer.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
James W. Holley III says he isn't waiting until July 1 when he's
sworn in to begin adding to the city's funds and to attract
businesses.
KEYWORDS: ELECTION PORTSMOUTH RESULTS PORTSMOUTH
MAYOR'S RACE by CNB