Just back from the Norfolk Branch NAACP 49th Annual Life Membership and Freedom Fund Banquet. The event was held at The Murray Center, the fine facility adjacent to First Baptist Church, Bute Street. I don’t know the capacity of the facility but my guess is that it is around 400 people and it was full. I arrived at the same time as 2nd Congressional District Democratic challenger Phil Kellam did. Norfolk Police Chief Bruce Marquis came in right behind us. Coming in a bit later were 2009 Democratic gubernatorial candidates Delegate Brian Moran and Senator Creigh Deeds.
3rd District Congressman Robert “Bobby” Scott made a few opening remarks as did Delegate Kenny Alexander. Kellam made a short speech to the attendees. Shortly afterwards, all of the aforementioned left to attend the Peninsula JJ Dinner. Democratic Senate candidate Jim Webb arrived midway thru dinner and was allowed to speak for a few minutes. After a brief visit, he also left.
The keynote speaker was The Rev. Dr. Geoffrey V. Guns, pastor of Second Calvary Baptist Church. The Norfolk NAACP has had two outstanding speakers in a row. Building on the NAACP theme “Voting Our Values, Valuing Our Votes,” Dr. Guns was none too happy that the electeds and candidates had not stayed for the entire event. More than that, he pointed out that not a single member of the Norfolk City Council was in attendance. Dr. Gun’s speech was interrupted often with applause from the audience and he was given a standing ovation at the end.
A good time was had by all. I look forward to next year’s event.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
I wish Mr. Webb could have stayed longer. His schedule stated that today he was supposed to be at the Virginia Union football game (I don’t know where that is); that he was supposed to be in Richmond for a street festival; in Petersburg for a “Nostalgiafest”; in Norfolk at 5:30 for the NAACP banquet, and at 7:00 p.m. he was to be at the “Peninsula Jefferson-Jackson Celebration and Democrats of the Year Awards”. I’m not sure how far apart from each other some of these places are, but I guess it would take more than an hour to get from Petersburg to Norfolk, wouldn’t it? Sounds like he was a little over-booked and probably did not stay anywhere today for the whole event. Anyway, it sounds as if the event was a very good one. It must be frustrating to have not one member of the City Council show up. Hope they’re all ashamed and make it next year.
Virginia Union is in Richmond. All of the Richmond events got cancelled. Based on what was said when he came in, the Petersburg event must have been cancelled, too, because he flew into Norfolk from NoVA. He got to Norfolk around 6:30pm and was gone about 20 minutes later.
I was disappointed that none of council was there.
It sounds like if he flew into town and then left soon after, he must have considered the event important…important enough to spend the extra money on a plane….it’s not like he’s been flying to all of his events….in fact this may have been the only (or maybe one of the few) that he’s gone to such lengths.
I realize he’s been criticized for not appealing to his base prior to this. I’m happy to see that he’s putting money, energy, and time into his base…..
Right now hopefully all the diverse dem groups will work together and make a pact that no one will get “sold out.” I know that if any Dem gets into office and then proposes legislation that has racist, sexist, homophobic, agist, etc effects I’ll be rearing up and making some noise…..I’m hoping all Dems are of a similar mind and plan to hold all dem officials accountable….all the time.
But this is me hoping….b/c I’m obviously not a party insider….buzz…buzz….
Why was everything in Richmond cancelled? If everything else was cancelled, wouldn’t that have given Webb more time to spend at the NAACP dinner? Twenty minutes is showing much support for his base. Is it?
Above message, should have said ‘twenty minutes is NOT showing much support for his base. Sorry!
Sounds like all the elected officials did the “speak and leave” tour, except those who didn’t even show.
That’s support?
I don’t know this for certain, but the Richmond cancellations were most likely due to the weather. There was some serious flooding in parts of Richmond due to a nor’easter that flooded a lot of areas of SE Va. According to Carla, he was due at the Peninsula JJ Dinner which is not Richmond.
I too wish he would spend more time with his base, but his funds are so short compared to Allen’s, maybe that’s why he is concentrating in other areas? If indeed he is. He’s not very visible.
I find it appalling that no member of the City Council was at the NAACP dinner last night. Absolutely incredible – talk about not appealing to your base!
Yes, it was the weather. When I say the events were cancelled, I don’t mean that Webb chose not to go; instead, there was no Va Union homecoming football game, there was no 2 Street festival. I was watching MSNBC yesterday and they were reporting on the weather. At one point, they said the city with the worst weather in the country was Richmond. And then they said it was Norfolk. All around SE VA the weather was bad.
The plane used to get to Norfolk was donated by a supporter. Webb mentioned in his speech that there were significant winds, making the ride in the small plane a difficult one. I spoke with him briefly, mentioning that it was good he was out in the community, and he told me of other such appearances scheduled over the next few days.
Here is a report from Daily Press writer Jim Hodges, with whom I sat last night. (He left when Webb did and trailed him to Hampton.)
As for the Council members – what can I say? I just hope the attendees remember this at election time.
I would have loved to attended the Peninsula JJ but yesterday was my middle child’s 13th birthday (Yikes! I have 2 teenagers now!) and we had a little homespun fun.
Anyway.. a woman who was at the JJ videotaping Webb emailed me saying she left her tripod at the convention center. She’ll pay for it to be shipped back to Vienna. If anybody knows where it is, let me know at eileen vbdems.org.