Yesterday was the filing deadline for the council races. Here are the final candidates (per the VP):
Mayor
Paul D. Fraim – current mayor, lawyer
Daniel E. Montague – retired shipyward worker
Ward 1
Don Williams * – real estate investor
Barbara C. Saunders – paint company president
Ward 2
Felisha D. Belin – health care marketer
Andrew J. Wallach – civic league president, financial planner
Theresa W. Whibley – School Board chairperson, physician
Ward 3
Anthony Burfoot * – health care insurance broker
Ward 4
Paul R. Riddick * – funeral home owner
Kerry Lynch – Planning Commission member, sales & development manager
Ward 5
W. Randy Wright * – printer
Michael C. Osburn – retired Navy
* – incumbent
There is no incumbent in Ward 2 since that is the seat being vacated by Fraim, who is running for the elected mayor position. Note that the VP has Fraim listed as the incumbent. While he is the mayor, I believe the Pilot errs in identifying him as the incumbent since he was not previously elected as mayor. This election of mayor will be the first since 1916.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
Vivian,
Nice to see you blogging.
I was a bit rough on you during the campaign because I just didn’t see the point of anyone challenging Tom Moss from within the party. From afar though, it was quite interesting with you, Sherry and Tom running for the same office. Just shows how weak the Republican Party is in Norfolk if they couldn’t even pull off a victory when three Democrats are running against each other.
But, nice job. I always respect anyone who puts their name on the ballot. Thanks for doing that and giving the citizens of Norfolk a choice.
Anyway, I digress.
You’re absolutely right here…the Pilot errs. Did they ever run a correction?
JR
I didn’t challenge Moss from within the party; in fact, I didn’t even enter the race until he decided to run as an independent. Looking from the outside is a totally different view from the inside. And I don’t think the Republican Party in Norfolk is that weak; after all, I was asked twice to run for them. They just had a weak candidate. So the R support went to Moss and myself.
And, as far as I know, the Pilot didn’t run a correction. (Not that I would expect them to.)
Thanks, Vivian. I would have never known that but through your blog. It shows the danger that we run as bloggers when we make assumptions — particularly in political punditry — about issues we are not intimately familiar with. But is also shows the power of blogs at getting the information corrected. Sure wish the VP took that view.
Like you, I have a lot of issues with the VP – more so after having been a candidate who was not a part of the establishment. Many people say the VP leans left – I disagree. I think the VP leans towards power and it just happens that the power in Norfolk is in the hands of elected D’s.