KEMPSVILLE — Two of three candidates in the special election for District 1 on the City Council met Thursday, Dec. 7, in a forum hosted by the Hampton Roads Black Caucus.
Teresa Gladney, a retired federal worker and community volunteer, and John Napier, an attorney who owns a mediation consulting firm, answered questions at the Philippine Cultural Center of Virginia. The third candidate in the race, former city Fire Chief David Hutcheson, did not attend.
Topics included school funding, the right for municipal workers to organize and the need for affordable housing.
Early in-person voting is underway in the Tuesday, Jan. 9, special election to complete the remaining year on the District 1 council term after Rocky Holcomb’s recent resignation to become sheriff. The seat is also among those scheduled to be on the November general election ballot this coming year.
In his opening remarks, Napier said his motivation to run is to serve the district and city as an advocate for citizens.
“There are many things that I would like to be able to do on City Council,’ he said. “My reason for running, my motivation for service, the role I see playing on City Council is that of a bridge builder. I am an attorney and a mediator, as well, and in that role I’m constantly trying to find ways in a variety of circumstances to bring people together, to find resolution and to make things happen.”
Gladney stressed her time in the community and said her candidacy is an example to girls to overcome challenges such as divisiveness when seeking public office, and she also said citizens did not need special interests to tell them how to vote.
“My reputation as a dedicated public servant for the Hampton Road area stands on its own merits,” she said, adding that she has worked to solve issues in the community, including volunteering and running a nonprofit group.
“We need to put more power in the hands of the people,” Gladney said. “District 1 should reflect the will of the people.”
On school funding, Napier said the revenue sharing formula between the city and city schools has worked well. “At this point, I don’t see the need to be changing the revenue source or the formula, as it stands.”
Said Gladney, “The school system has under-executed their appropriated funds” while seeking more money.
She added that “we need to cut some of the fat” from its budget.
Gladney, answering a question about collective bargaining, said she would not support it for municipal workers, adding that people should understand Virginia’s status as a right-to-work state as a draw for investment by the business community.
“Workers do not need to join a union to hold a job,” Gladney said. “The only people who benefit from collective bargaining is union bosses.”
Napier said he would also vote to turn down collective bargaining because, he said, it could cost the city “millions and millions of dollars.”
The city, he said, does a great job supporting staff and workers.
Both candidates discussed the need for affordable housing. Gladney said businesses struggle to hire people who don’t have anywhere to live. She said she favors a long-term plan to reduce the housing shortage. She said it should prevent new housing in areas that are at risk of flooding while incentivizing redevelopment of old buildings.
Napier spoke about a range of housing types, urging reforms in the city to incentivize opportunities for quality affordable housing and to help people progress here.
“I want to see affordable housing in homeownership,” he said.
On taxes, Napier said, while the city has lowest tax rate in the region, that does not mean the actual tax burden is low. He said he was confident there are areas of the city budget that could be cut to reduce the tax burden while providing core services, though he did not offer specifics of what might go.
Gladney said she could not offer specifics of what should be reduced, either, but she said the city should not put forward a budget with tax increases or wasteful spending.
And, regarding the Green Line, the candidates were asked about concerns citizens have about projects below the Green Line, including the willingness of a majority of the council to support a controversial apartment rezoning near the municipal center over strong public objections and opposition by the district’s representative.
Gladney said she would have opposed the Silo at Southern Pines project. She said there were too many exceptions made for it.
“I fully support protecting anything within the Green Line,” she said.
Napier spoke about the difference between the Green Line and the Indian River Road corridor, below which are the city’s rural communities.
“I am fully supportive of making sure we preserve the agricultural nature of the southern half of the city,” he said.
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