Ed. — The following are responses to questions posed by The Independent News to candidates for the two at large seats on the Virginia Beach City Council up for election on Tuesday, Nov. 6. An incumbent is noted. The answers to our questions in this series generally are not edited, aside from obvious punctuation issues, spacing and formatting. Our full 17-page voter guide is now on stands.
Linda M. Bright
Residence: Three Oaks
Age: I’m a country girl and we don’t tell our age, I’m over 50, and its a public record. 🙂
Occupation: CEO and President of Health Care Services of Hampton Roads and Linda Bright’s Consulting Services
Education: BS, Psychology, MA, Urban Planning and Administrative Management, MS, Criminal Justice.
Website: LindaBrightvb.com // Phone: 757-737-7312 // Email: BrightL@aol.com
What are your specific qualifications for this office? I have been serving our city since 1988, wrote the first long-term care plan in the state for people with disabilities and it was used for training across Virginia. Appointed by both Governors to his Rehabilitation Commission, requested to come to the White House in 2012 to help President Obama and Valarie Jarrett on the Fiscal Cliff, these are boards, 14 years on Minority Business Council, Vice Chair of Community Services Board and Chair of DDS board, President of the Epilepsy Foundation of Virginia. Provide housing for the homeless, mentally ill, jail release’s, get family’s off the street and provide clothing for children in school who need weather appropriate wear.
What, to you, is the most important issue facing the city and how will you address it in office? Flooding most definitely needs addressing and I will meet with other cities to see how they are refining their process to creating a means to eliminate the flooding. Reviewing the budget which I have a copy of to look at spending and priorities in our city, such as low income housing not reflecting “projects”, addressing the needs of the senior citizens day programs and making sure there are meals delivered, all day kindergarten and addressing the wages of our policeman, firefighters, and teachers who are the lowest paid in 9 cities.
What are your policy priorities as a potential member of the City Council? Policies on making sure our schools are safe and writing policy on relating it across the board in all schools. Integrating our officers in all communities so the residents are comfortable with talking to them and making calls when there are concerns.
Where should redevelopment or development efforts be focused? I do not want to relocate our City Hall. Town Center is already crowded with no parking now. We need to leave it where it is.
Virginia Beach has allowed limited development in the transition area between suburban and rural areas of the city, yet some of this development has proved costly to taxpayers. Should the city further limit projects in that area due to flooding and density concerns? My concerns would be if the city wanted to develop areas where there is significant amount of flooding. These areas must be rehabilitated to reduce and eliminate the flooding all together.
Should city services such as water and sewer be extended south of Indian River Road to promote development of rural communities? We can utilize our natural resources and input as needed in areas where there may be development occurring.
Do you support the agricultural reserve program, or ARP? Should either the program or its dedicated funding level be changed? I was born and raised in the country and I think the biggest mistake we have made in the years is cutting down our trees. Our trees must be maintained where possible and funding levels to implement protecting our programs.
How should the city address concerns about sea level rise and recurrent flooding? Off shore drilling should not happen within 150 miles of our shoreline and I’m concern with it then. I prefer “windmill” from the research it will be better for the cities close to these projects.
Voters from across the city select members of the city council, including members who represent district seats. Should the city consider another way of selecting members of the council, such as a ward system? This is not my preference. If we go to district voting but not a ward system.
There is a sense that some developers in Virginia Beach are favored by government. What will you do to either ensure fairness for all business or fight this perception? I was the longest person to ever set on the Minority Business Council. I worked hard to ensure the city was fair in their awards of contracts to businesses. We worked to reach a goal of 10% to women, minority owned and small businesses.
We are at 4.9% but not near where we should be. I knew the results of the disparity study would present the same results.We knew this and we spent 500 thousand dollars to find this out, we already knew. That money could have been used to feed the homeless and/or help small business pay to qualify for bonding to operate their business and/or operate a locations in the city for business owners who cannot afford an office space but needed an “Incubator”.
The city administration has faced controversy, including an effort to shutter the ARP to pay for storm water projects. Is it time to change city management? Change is good most especially which behaviors become questionable. I believe that a committee must be formed to address and interview any employee in top level positions to respond on decision making that become concerns of our citizens and changes the parameter of our city and give favor.
Over the past few years, the City Council has not taken decisive action to address short-term rentals, despite clear concern about them within residential communities. What should be done? Should Sandbridge be a special case? If so, why? I do believe the city should listen to the citizens of Sandbridge to listen what they want. There must be clear policy written to address the operation and safety of this area. Sandbridge has done beautifully through the years, everyone should not be penalized with increase of taxes but empty houses that the owners are never there but built them to only increase their finances maybe under another policy.
No Sandbridge should not be a special case. Home owners who do enjoy coming to their summer homes or when they want should not have to put out extra funds because they are living there throughout the year but not 24/7.
Garry B. Hubbard
Residence: Magic Hollow
Age: 70
Occupation: Retired construction contractor
Military Service/Education: Honorably discharged Navy Veteran, attended ODU and TCC
Website: garryhubbardforcitycouncil.com // Phone: (757) 427-7994 // Email: garryhubbard1948@gmail.com // Social media: https://www.facebook.com/GarryHubbardforVBCC
What are your specific qualifications for this office? I will represent all of Virginia Beach. As a business man I have never asked for favors. Unlike others, I have not received any donations from “big money” developers. I would support a citywide incentive program for small businesses to spur capital investment in fixed improvements.
We must end this flooding now! What is the sense of having city councilmen up there that care more about lining their pockets then lifting it’s residents up at desperate times? Elect someone whom won’t blow your money on wasteful projects. With decades of experience behind me, you won’t be disappointed.
What to you is the most important issue facing the city and how will you address it in office? Corruption. I haven’t taken any dark money, no one owns me, I don’t owe anyone any favors. The city’s success and the prosperity of it’s residents should be top priority, not few wealthy individuals off in a dark room somewhere. I will call out back room deals and expose corruption from where it is if elected. I don’t play dirty politics, nor will I blow our residents trust just to get ahead.
What are your policy priorities as a potential member of the City Council? Flooding, corruption, transportation, and economic prosperity.
Where should redevelopment or development efforts be focused? Attainable affordable housing-the wants of the developers should never out weigh the needs of the citizens. Overdeveloped
Virginia Beach has allowed limited development in the transition area between suburban and rural areas of the city, yet some of this development has proven costly to taxpayers. Should the city further limit projects in that area due to flooding and density concerns? Yes limit development density and projects.
Should city services such as water and sewer be extended south of Indian River Road to promote development of rural communities? No, because it would encourage development in that area.
Do you support the agricultural reserve program, or ARP? Should either the program or its dedicated funding level be changed? Yes,keep our green line.
How should the city address concerns about sea level rise and recurrent flooding? We need long overdue storm maintenance work -to dredge out the ponds. Reduce the back flow of the water on the street by removing storm debris in the water drains. The city shouldn’t pick winners and losers (ie nepotism) when choosing developers to alleviate our flooding.
For more information on my flooding plan please visit: garryhubbardforcitycouncil.com
Voters from across the city select members of the city council, including members who represent district seats. Should the city consider another way of selecting members of the council, such as a ward system? I believe it’s up to the voter’s to decide.
There is a sense that some developers in Virginia Beach are favored by government. What will you do to either ensure fairness for all business or fight this perception? We need to do our homework on these developers. We can’t just look at one bid and then pass it off to our wealthy developer friends. That’s what’s been happening. Unfortunately because of this bridges have collapsed, roads have fallen into disrepair, light rain floods our streets, and wasteful spending is being placed for “valet parking” at private hotels. I won’t for one second, drown out your voices or concerns. Developers will have to compete fairly for contracts, and not walk into the room act like contracts are their birth right.
The city administration has faced controversy, including an effort to shutter the ARP to pay for storm water projects. Is it time to change city management? Yes.
Over the past few years, the City Council has not taken decisive action to address short-term rentals, despite clear concern about them within residential communities. What should be done? Should Sandbridge be a special case? If so, why? We have no business telling them how to make a living.
John D. Moss
[Incumbent]
Residence: Witchduck Point
Age: 64
Occupation: City Council Member At-Large and DoD employee
Military Service/Education: Senior Officer Class Naval War College M.S., Senior Federal Fellows Program, JFK School of Government, Harvard University, Old Dominion University MPA, VA Tech B.A., and Princess Anne High School
Endorsements: Virginia Beach Police Benevolent Association, Virginia Beach Professional Firefighters and Stop the Flooding Now
Website: CouncilmanJohnDMoss.com // Phone: (757) 460-0136 // Email: johndmoss4109@gmail.com // Social media: Councilman John Moss on Facebook
What are your specific qualifications for this office? I am faithful to the governing principles of America’s experiment in self-governance. My professional education, my personal integrity, my willingness to listen, my judging issues on the merits, thirty-nine years of public service experience at the federal and local level in strategy development and execution, resource management, setting priorities, and my record of accomplishments constitute my qualifications. Furthermore, I am a fiscal conservative, and understand that the City Council spends money it does not earn; therefore, frugality and budgetary discipline must govern council decision-making.
What, to you, is the most important issue facing the city and how will you address it in office? Flooding is the existential threat to our community, our top priority. You only have to look at Hurricane Florence’s impact on North Carolina to see what easily could have been us. I support realignment of revenues within the operating budget and the capital improvement plan to eliminate the now twelve-year backlog in drainage maintenance in six years or less. Deliver the six approved flood mitigation projects in eight years or less versus the now fifteen years. I support new building codes and land use policies. I support a future bond referendum of flood prevention projects for the voters’ approval.
What are your policy priorities as a potential member of the City Council?
► Eliminate the Virginia Beach Development Authority as a Council borrowing vehicle to avoid having to get the voters’ approval in a bond referendum
► Adopt a Flood Prevention Strategy and Ten-Year Investment Strategy financed from current revenue streams and a future bond referendum(s)
► Establish a new process for building the City’s budget that puts residents at the front-end as part of City Council providing specific guidance to the City Manager
► Adopt a new compensation framework for public safety
► Replace current special interests’ economic development policy with level-playing-field development incentives.
Where should redevelopment or development efforts be focused? The demand signals of the free market and actions of entrepreneurs be it Beach residents or outside investors or a combination should decide the focus of redevelopment or development within the City in alignment with our Comprehensive Land Use Plan and level playing field economic development incentives. It would be hubris at best and to a less prosperous end for City Council to continue to pick the winners and losers in a dynamically changing economy. I support robust economic growth fed by the practice of free market principles.
Virginia Beach has allowed limited development in the transition area between suburban and rural areas of the city, yet some of this development has proved costly to taxpayers. Should the city further limit projects in that area due to flooding and density concerns? The City having established the Transition Area within the City’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan and vesting property rights with that plan cannot now reduce those property rights without just compensation.
The City Council can and should strictly apply the Transition Area section of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan. For property that has not yet submitted a site plan the City Council can further adopt science-based requirements with regard to stormwater management and building elevations. In doing so, the City Council is obligated to respect the property rights that the Transition Area section of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan has conveyed.
Densities and development not in strict compliance with Comprehensive Land Use Plan for the Transition Area should not be permitted.
Should city services such as water and sewer be extended south of Indian River Road to promote development of rural communities? The City should not extend water and sewer south of Indian River Road. The City should not permit developers in the Transition Area to build excess water and sewer capacity in their developments that would facilitate making it economical to extend water and sewer south of Indian River Road.
Do you support the agricultural reserve program, or ARP? Should either the program or its dedicated funding level be changed? The ARP program should be reduced to the funding level that the incumbent Council Member for the Princess Anne District approved and voted for when she supported Light Rail. The funding stream that was aligned to Light Rail should be directed to drainage maintenance projects. Land purchases should not be made in advance of need.
How should the city address concerns about sea level rise and recurrent flooding? A combination of civil engineering prevention projects, stepped up drainage maintenance schedules, elevated construction, increasing drainage capacity in developed areas, and preservation of natural floodway represent the spectrum of approaches to flooding. Inherent to the former approaches is the discussion of how much of the flooding risk we will buy down over what period of time. Flood prevention projects and drainage maintenance projects must become the highest priority within the Capital Improvement Program and have a disproportionate claim on the City’s available debt capacity.
Voters from across the city select members of the city council, including members who represent district seats. Should the city consider another way of selecting members of the council, such as a ward system? Beach voters should be given the opportunity in a referendum to decide whether they want to modify the manner by which their council is elected. It is City Council’s duty to enable voters to decide on a General Assembly approved Charter amendment in a referendum.
I do not fear the voters. If Council Members are willing to accept the judgment of the voters that put them into office, then they should equally trust voters’ judgment to decide how they want to elect members to City Council.
There is a sense that some developers in Virginia Beach are favored by government. What will you do to either ensure fairness for all business or fight this perception? Beach voters do not need to be convinced of what they already know to be true. Replace the current special interests’ economic incentives with level playing field economic incentives. Local government needs to focus on its core functions and leave private sector development to the free market. If the voters want to change the “good old boy” development practices in Virginia Beach, they have to elect a new governing majority. One Council Member cannot implement free market development principles and practices to ensure fairness. It takes six plus votes to make City Council policy.
The city administration has faced controversy, including an effort to shutter the ARP to pay for storm water projects. Is it time to change city management? Beach residents need a new governing majority on City Council and a new City Manager. It is past time for a change. This is not a new position for me. Most people who read the paper and/or observe what is going on in the City have come to the same conclusion. There is no better proof than a City Council majority that places a new City Hall and a field house ahead of keeping water out of residents’ homes from just a heavy rain.
Over the past few years, the City Council has not taken decisive action to address short-term rentals, despite clear concern about them within residential communities. What should be done? Should Sandbridge be a special case? If so, why? The General Assembly has made short-term rentals a vested property right at Sandbridge. Therefore, Sandbridge is a special case. I cannot make any further statements with respect to Sandbridge. I have a conflict per the Commonwealth Attorney due to the property interest of my spouse via a recent inheritance.
I am not predisposed to the conditional use permit approach as a tool to permit short-term rentals. I support the use of a citizen petition request to begin the process to decide whether a neighborhood specific short-term rental overlay district should be created.
Dee B. Oliver
Residence: Cavalier Park
Age: 58
Occupation: Author, Public Speaker, Funeral Director
Education: BS in Education, Art, Funeral Service, Mortuary Science and Embalming.
Endorsements: Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, Virginia Beach Education Association and Fraternal Order of Police
Website: www.deeolivervb.com // Phone: (757) 406-4954 // Email: deeolivervb@gmail.com // Social media: https://www.facebook.com/DeeOliverVB/
What are your specific qualifications for this office? I grew up in a military family and graduated from Virginia Wesleyan College with degrees in Education and Art. I am a fourth-generation resident of Virginia Beach. I spent decades in the funeral business, going back to school for another degree. I am an author, the Vice Chair of the Virginia Beach Planning Commission, and an Executive Committee Member of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce. I’m seeking office to help take Virginia Beach to the next level. We have so much potential to excel in this city, and I want to help make the future positive for everyone.
What, to you, is the most important issue facing the city and how will you address it in office? Flooding is the most pressing issue facing Virginia Beach and to combat the impacts of sea level rise, we must accelerate BMP and canal dredging which is on an entirely underfunded and overlong plan currently in the city. These are crucial in managing storm water flow during storms below hurricane level. The city is working on modeling and simulation and moving towards engineering projects that will improve the dispersion of storm water without creating havoc in other parts of the city. I support these efforts and think we need to complete them quickly and efficiently.
What are your policy priorities as a potential member of the City Council? We must confront our business reputation that hurts us both here and outside our region. Our biggest economic development challenge is training a workforce that attracts high-paying jobs to Virginia Beach. Grants and incentives are of minimal advantage unless companies know that we have the workforce they need to succeed. At all levels, education must be ready to meet this need, for young people and career- switchers. An educated workforce is the best way to attract business to Virginia Beach. We’ve also gotten a reputation as a city that’s hard to do business with. We talk about great things, and get great proposals, but year after year, not many of them actually happen. We can’t seem to close a deal. Local businesses find it hard to expand. Projects drag on for years until companies walk away from their own proposals. We’ve got to turn that reputation around.
Where should redevelopment or development efforts be focused? As a Planning Commissioner, we work with developers to make sure they meet all requirements and conform to the city’s comprehensive plan. The strategic growth areas are where more vertical growth and density is encouraged because of their proximity to larger roads and highways. It’s a smart strategy to keep development in those northern areas.
Virginia Beach has allowed limited development in the transition area between suburban and rural areas of the city, yet some of this development has proved costly to taxpayers. Should the city further limit projects in that area due to flooding and density concerns? I voted against these projects as a Planning Commissioner, and I completely agree that we should show great caution in allowing development in land which is now in danger of flooding
Should city services such as water and sewer be extended south of Indian River Road to promote development of rural communities? Absolutely not.
Do you support the agricultural reserve program, or ARP? Should either the program or its dedicated funding level be changed? I do support the ARP and oppose efforts to end it.
How should the city address concerns about sea level rise and recurrent flooding? As I answered above, first dredge our BMP lakes and clear ditches and then implement the upgrading of our storm water infrastructure with the information and recommendations of the upcoming Dewberry study.
Voters from across the city select members of the city council, including members who represent district seats. Should the city consider another way of selecting members of the council, such as a ward system? I don’t support a ward system and I believe most voters like having a say in all Council elections. But if the citizens want one in a referendum, we should listen.
There is a sense that some developers in Virginia Beach are favored by government. What will you do to either ensure fairness for all business or fight this perception? I can say from my own experience that city government is not the easiest thing to deal with. I could tell you some stories. I think many people and many small businesses get frustrated by the red tape and delays that the simplest process can demand. Some folks have a way of cutting through that red tape. Most do not. That’s a key focus of mine – to restore the customer service aspect of local government so that everyone is treated as valued and important.
The city administration has faced controversy, including an effort to shutter the ARP to pay for storm water projects. Is it time to change city management? I never worked with the City Manager, so I am willing to give him a chance. I demand excellence and expect he will meet Council’s expectations until he proves me wrong. But, I won’t be very patient. I wasn’t happy with the news reports of his comments and attitudes. Maybe the future will be brighter.
Over the past few years, the City Council has not taken decisive action to address short-term rentals, despite clear concern about them within residential communities. What should be done? Should Sandbridge be a special case? If so, why? Council has been trying for three years to balance the neighborhoods that want to ban short term rentals with the neighborhoods that have had them for years and want to keep them. I believe the overlay concept works best and neighborhoods can initiate to allow them if they choose.
Aaron R. Rouse
Residence: Witchduck Point
Age: 34
Occupation: Consultant and Director of Nonprofit
Education: Bachelor’s in Psychology from Virginia Tech
Endorsements: Virginia Beach Education Association, Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce and Police Benevolent Association
Website: rouseforcouncil.com // Phone: (757) 749-6080 // Email: esmel@rouseforcouncil.com // Social media: Facebook: @AaronRouseVB; Twitter: @AaronRouseVB; and Instagram: @AaronRouseVB
What are your specific qualifications for this office? I’m qualified to represent the residents of VB because I walked and experienced every level of life here in Virginia Beach. I understand the value of our public-school system. I understand the importance of a safe community coming from one of the most impoverished communities. I know and understand the tough job our first responders and teachers have. As well as the important role that our local business leaders play. There is no other candidate with my broad array of experiences at my age. I speak to all residents of VB not just a select few. I am VB — a culmination of our community.
What, to you, is the most important issue facing the city and how will you address it in office? The most important issue facing our city is that our government has lost sight of who it serves: The People. We’ve got to get back to our elected officials prioritizing the needs of the citizens of our great city, rather than serving the special interests.
What are your policy priorities as a potential member of the City Council? My policy priorities are finding solutions for flooding and sea level rise, restoring our public education funding to pre-recession levels, paying our teachers and public safety workers fairly, and creating economic opportunity for ALL.
Where should redevelopment or development efforts be focused? I believe our efforts should be focused on sustainable redevelopment all across the city, rather than focused just on the Oceanfront or Town Center. We need (re)development that improves the city for everyone, not just the tourists who visit.
Virginia Beach has allowed limited development in the transition area between suburban and rural areas of the city, yet some of this development has proved costly to taxpayers. Should the city further limit projects in that area due to flooding and density concerns? If an area floods without development, I am almost certain it will continue to flood once developed. It is irresponsible for our city to allow projects without considering the consequences for the residents in the community and the costs for our taxpayers. I also believe density concerns should be of the utmost importance, especially when those concerns are shared by the Military. There is no new neighborhood development important enough to risk our military bases. We should continue to work closely with liaisons from our bases to ensure that no new developments present density concerns for our military.
Should city services such as water and sewer be extended south of Indian River Road to promote development of rural communities? I believe the people should have a voice in approving a project like extending water and sewer south of Indian River Road. A project as comprehensive as this should be taken to referendum.
Do you support the agricultural reserve program, or ARP? Should either the program or its dedicated funding level be changed? I support the agricultural reserve program since it has been very successful in maintaining the boundaries between the transition area and rural Pungo. I do not believe the agricultural reserve program needs to be altered.
How should the city address concerns about sea level rise and recurrent flooding? There is no way for our City Council to stop sea level rise, so it is therefore the responsibility of our City Council to maintain and develop our city with sea level rise in mind. This starts with building codes that account for sea level rise for our coastal areas. In regards to recurrent flooding, it is an incredibly complicated issue with incredibly complicated solutions. In the southern part of the city, tidal and wind flooding from Back Bay has always been a problem, but it has worsened in recent years. We have to take this into account when considering new development projects in these parts of the city. We also have to develop infrastructure that can handle this flooding. We’ve got to extend Nimmo Parkway so our Sandbridge residents are not abandoned when the water rises. We’ve got to maintain the ditches along roads prone to flooding, which alleviates flooding greatly. We have to create a city that doesn’t shut down just because winds are strong out of the south or there’s been a big rain storm. It is crucial that our city is more resilient than that.
Voters from across the city select members of the city council, including members who represent district seats. Should the city consider another way of selecting members of the council, such as a ward system? I fullheartedly believe it is time to reconsider how our citizens choose their representation on City Council. To my understanding, we are the only municipality with a system like this. We need to redraw our districts and create a ward voting system, which maintains several at-large seats and the mayor seat.
There is a sense that some developers in Virginia Beach are favored by government. What will you do to either ensure fairness for all business or fight this perception? Transparency is the most important characteristic of government and I believe our city is lacking transparency in some respects. We’ve got to accept the issues present in the disparity study and develop a more transparent bidding process. Even the appearance that certain developers are favored by government can cause our citizens to not trust our government. Ensuring our citizens restore their trust in our government is one of the biggest motivations for my campaign for City Council and I will continue to fight for our citizens’ trust once on Council.
The city administration has faced controversy, including an effort to shutter the ARP to pay for storm water projects. Is it time to change city management? I believe it is time for a new generation of leadership in our city government that puts our people first and maintains a transparent, accountable administration. When we earmark funds for certain things, it is irresponsible to turn around and use that money for something else. The ARP is an essential program and the funds dedicated to ARP should remain dedicated to ARP.
Over the past few years, the City Council has not taken decisive action to address short-term rentals, despite clear concern about them within residential communities. What should be done? Should Sandbridge be a special case? If so, why? I believe that our property owners should retain the property rights, including their right to rent their homes. Short term rentals have always been a huge part of our tourism industry and any changes to a property owner’s ability to rent their home could be extremely consequential. If we allow property owners to retain their ability to rent their homes, then we will not need a special overlay district for Sandbridge with different regulations – we will have uniformity across the city. For this issue, like any other, I believe the solution can be found in listening to the residents.
Allison M. White
Residence: Red Mill
Age: 46
Occupation: Teacher
Education: Political Science Degree – James Madison University, Master’s Degree in Education – Old Dominion University; Law Degree – University of Akron School of Law
Endorsements: Recommended by the Virginia Beach Democratic Party; Endorsed by the LGBT Democrats of Virginia; Recommended by Indivisible757
Website: www.allisonwhitevb.com // Phone: (757) 689-7615 // Email: allisonwhite@gmail.com // Social media: www.facebook.com/allisonwhitevb
What are your specific qualifications for this office? I am from Virginia Beach. I graduated from Cox High School. I have a political science degree from James Madison University, a masters degree in education from Old Dominion University, and a law degree from the University of Akron School of Law. I am a public high school teacher. I have been a teacher for 15 years. I have no conflicts of interest.
What, to you, is the most important issue facing the city and how will you address it in office? The most important issue facing the city is flooding and sea level rise. I will take immediate action to get our ditches and storm water drains cleared out across the city. I support green solutions as part of the plan to deal with flooding and sea level rise in the future.
What are your policy priorities as a potential member of the City Council? As public high school teacher, I would fully represent the interests of our public schools, teachers, and students. I would work to immediately address flooding and sea level rise. I would work to increase pay and benefits for our public safety personnel. I support policies that would make it easier for small businesses and entrepreneurs to start up in Virginia Beach.
Where should redevelopment or development efforts be focused? Redevelopment and development efforts should be focused. Development in areas that are prone to flooding should be highly scrutinized by city council.
Virginia Beach has allowed limited development in the transition area between suburban and rural areas of the city, yet some of this development has proved costly to taxpayers. Should the city further limit projects in that area due to flooding and density concerns? I would highly scrutinize any development in the transition area. I would favor limited development in the transition area only if it is clearly in the best interests of the citizens of Virginia Beach to do so.
Should city services such as water and sewer be extended south of Indian River Road to promote development of rural communities? I do not believe that city services such as water and sewer be extended south of Indian River to promote development of rural communities at this time. The green line needs to be protected.
Do you support the agricultural reserve program, or ARP? Should either the program or its dedicated funding level be changed? I strongly support the ARP. I would work to expand the program. ARP helps keep the agricultural industry viable in southern Virginia Beach, stops suburban sprawl, saves the city money by not extending costly infrastructure, promotes open spaces, and helps mitigate the effects of flooding.
How should the city address concerns about sea level rise and recurrent flooding? City council must have a long-term commitment to address flooding and sea level rise. I believe green solutions must be included in any comprehensive plan that deals with flooding and sea level rise. I support capital projects to combat flooding and sea level rise.
Voters from across the city select members of the city council, including members who represent district seats. Should the city consider another way of selecting members of the council, such as a ward system? I believe that only citizens of the district should be able to vote for the district members of city council. I would support a referendum to allow the citizens of Virginia Beach to decide this issue.
There is a sense that some developers in Virginia Beach are favored by government. What will you do to either ensure fairness for all business or fight this perception? I strongly support equality of opportunity and fairness in business dealings by the city. I strongly support local government transparency in all public contracts with developers.
The city administration has faced controversy, including an effort to shutter the ARP to pay for storm water projects. Is it time to change city management? It may be time to change city management. If the decisions and recommendations of city management no longer support the best interests of the citizens of Virginia Beach, then new city management may be required.
Over the past few years, the City Council has not taken decisive action to address short-term rentals, despite clear concern about them within residential communities. What should be done? Should Sandbridge be a special case? If so, why? I strongly support Sandbridge as economic driver in our city. I do not support onerous regulations on short-term rentals for the residents of Sandbridge.
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