THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, June 29, 1996 TAG: 9606290221
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TONI WHITT, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 114 lines
When they swear him in as Portsmouth's mayor on Sunday, James W. Holley III will finish a political resurrection that a decade ago seemed unimaginable.
Many in this city had expected Holley to disappear into seclusion after he lost his post in a bitter recall election in 1987 over allegations that he sent hate mail, overspent the city's travel budget and extensively used city phones to make long-distance personal calls.
But Holley gave fair warning that he was not about to disappear.
As he emptied his desk, Holley predicted he would be back.
``I've cleaned out offices before,'' he said. ``Then I come back and fill them up.''
Politicians, he said then, are like actors: ``We're on stage and we're off stage. We have our entrances and exits. This happens to be one of my exits.''
Still, few predicted that he would ever return so successfully. Holley received 48 percent of the vote in the May 7 election, defeating two-term incumbent Gloria O. Webb's 40 percent and Frank A. Harte's 12.5 percent.
Holley, now 69, says he never had a doubt that he would be back in public life, and his perseverance paid off this spring.
It took three elections and a ton of chutzpah to get his public position back. He has been hailed for his tenacity even by people to whom he once was accused of sending hate mail.
Holley has given credit to supporters for his doggedness. He said friends rallied around him after the recall and encouraged him to stay in the political arena. Politics is in his blood, he said, and has been since he began working for civil rights in the 1950s.
Holley, who was in Paris this week, declined several requests to be interviewed before taking office.
Holley started his political career under the tutelage of Hugo Owens, a retired dentist who began fighting for civil rights before 1950. Owens was running for City Council when Holley came to work for him.
``He got the bug then to work in the political arena,'' Owens recalled. ``Politics are contagious for someone who has the personality he does. He did well in the years before he was recalled. He had created an ebullience in the city.''
Owens, who was a target of the hate-mail campaign, said when people asked him whom to vote for in the May mayor election, he told them Holley.
Former Councilman J. Robert Gray said Holley's persistence never surprised him. Gray served on the council with Holley during Holley's first tenure as mayor.
``It was an inherent trait that he used to his advantage,'' Gray said.
His personality also helped Holley regain the mayor's office, Gray added.
``If you're in Jim's presence,'' Gray said, ``he's friendly and personable. He easily mixes and mingles.''
Gray said he hopes the past won't impede Holley's performance as mayor.
``I think he will have to be careful,'' Gray said. ``There could be people looking for something to go awry and will want to jump on it. I hope that doesn't occur. I hope, as a city, we will work together. If there's any animosity toward him, I hope people will put it aside.''
Gray said he believes the new council will work well together.
Holley, he said, was always good at listening to other people's opinions.
``He will be a good compromiser if it's in the best interest of the city,'' Gray said. ``If he can't be convinced it's in the best interest, he will stand his ground.''
Vice Mayor Johnny M. Clemons said he's taking a ``wait and see attitude'' toward the new council, which will include Holley and former School Board Chairman J. Thomas Benn. No longer on the council are former Mayor Webb and James C. Hawks.
``It's hard to know what facets are going to come together,'' Clemons said.
Clemons said Holley's experience as a council member and mayor will benefit the city. He noted Holley's ability to persuade and to sell the city.
``We need elected leadership to do some flag-waving,'' Clemons said. ``We haven't had a cheerleader. He's the flamboyant individual who does that kind of thing.''
Holley has already started making his mark.
He had the swearing-in ceremony moved from the traditional site, City Council chambers, to the plaza at City Hall - the place where he was sworn in as mayor in 1984.
He also decided to have the ceremony on a Sunday. Portsmouth usually has its ceremony on a weekday - either June 30 or the Friday before July 1. The move was apparently designed to get more of the public there. The time, 2 p.m., also affords time for a public reception afterward on the plaza, and a private celebration later at Holley's home.
The council's reorganizational meeting, at which it will select the vice mayor and seating arrangements, will take place at noon on Monday in council chambers.
Holley received support from blacks and whites, and some believe he will help heal the city's divisiveness.
``The piece that Holley brings is a presence for the black community,'' said former First Citizen Maury Cooke, shortly after Holley was elected. ``That is absolutely key. Jim is the only one I know that can bring the black and white community together.''
``Jim calls this community a family,'' he added. ``I believe he believes that. We need someone who can bridge that gap.''
Councilman Cameron C. Pitts, who is lobbying for the vice mayor position, said Holley will put Portsmouth on the map as a ``viable place to work, live and enjoy life.''
People believe he can turn Portsmouth around in the way he rescued his own legacy.
Holley's place in history could have been that of the only local politician of his time ever to be recalled.
Instead, he is now described as a confident, proud man who never gave up and even predicted his own return.
``I think the city is going to do a rebound and is going to really prosper in the next four years,'' Owens said. ``Portsmouth is going to greet the 21st century with a bang under his leadership.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
The swearing-in ceremony for the mayor-elect and the newly elected
council members will take place at 2 p.m. Sunday on the plaza
outside City Hall, at 801 Crawford St. James W. Holley III will be
sworn as mayor. J. Thomas Benn, Cameron C. Pitts and Bernard D.
Griffin will be sworn as council members. The public is invited to a
reception afterward.
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