I just confirmed that Daun Hester, former Vice Mayor and current Superward 7 representative, is running for Mayor in Norfolk. Hester has served on council since 1996.
In a phone call, Hester said the decision to run didn’t come lightly. She said that she made up her mind last Friday and talked it over with her parents first. Hester understands that this will be a tough race but is willing to take on the challenge for Norfolk.
No doubt she will be updating her website soon. Hester will face incumbent Mayor Paul Fraim as well as Daniel E. Montague, who is running for the second time.
Here’s the thing: Hester will have to resign her seat in order to run (the Herb Collins rule). Then council will get to appoint someone to finish her term. Already rumor has it that Vice Mayor Anthony Burfoot will be appointed to replace her, which would then open up his Ward 3 seat. At least two people are already planning to run for that seat. UPDATE: I am getting clarification on this and will update once I have received all the information.
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In other Norfolk news, I’m told that Norma Dorey, one of the candidates mentioned in this article last week, has decided not to run for the open seat in Ward 1. Dorey was also featured in an article on the race in last Sunday’s Compass, the Norfolk insert in The Virginian-Pilot. Still in the race is John Hadjikakos, a real estate developer, Chuck Brewer, a retired Norfolk policeman, and Paul Trice.
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And I’m hearing that there will be a challenger in Ward 4 against incumbent Paul Riddick. It seems the only uncontested seat we have this year will be Ward 2, represented by Terry Whibley. Of course, the filing deadline is still a ways off. Candidates have to file by March 2 for the May 4 election.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
My, my, my, how interesting Norfolk City Council politics are becoming…Ms. Dorey, sadly, saw how quickly the political web becomes tangled and decided “no thanks”. Another good business person with a strong civic commitment to the community “bites the dust”.
Now, Ms. Hester, a long time council member, has decided to take on Mayor Fraim. whoa, will this be entertaining to watch! Much poitical drama ahead with the council seat resignation; the council seat appointment by Council; and then which politico will be supporting which candidates. Will Commissioner of the Revenue, Sharon McDonald support her BFF, Daun Hester (McDonald-Hester Golf Classic fundraiser which raises money their joint PAC) or will she throw her BBF over board to support Mayor Fraim who supported her re-election in the November. And who will Mr. Moss, the City Treasurer,(who Ms. McDonald has asked the City Attorney to investigate) support?…will it be the Mayor, the councilwoman, or challenger to Council establisment. Boy, it doesn’t get any more interesting than this…
Vivian, be consistent.
If the Burfoot shuffle is true, you better write about it like you did about Weems being appointed to the Bayside seat on the VB School Board.
Oh, I will. The only reason I crossed it out was because I’m trying to resolve the issue of filing the seat by appointment by council (which is what I have read in sec 7.1 of the City Charter) with it being done by special election, which is what some people have told me.
Great a black woman for mayor in Norfolk!!
Fraim is okay but I wonder if she could do better.
Will she tackle the issues that interest me ?
Hello,
my issue is this -we need someone in office that is not hung up on the money-but iknow it is part of it.
the poeple of norfolk are split and at same time charge up. we can’t forget about poeple while running for these offices.
what is these candiates going to do different from the fromer person now,
we need soild commitment from each .
ask the running candiates about housing -we already know what is needed low-income to fair market afforable housing.
how do we help those coming back into society-gain respect and become productive.
help small business owners hire and person’s with diabilities,we need more companies doing that.
don’t take away person’s home or business to make profit and kick them to the curve it’s time to listen to the poeple help your poeple become better.
thank you for running for this office are these any local places were the candiates will be so that we can ask questions of them. we want someone to work for the city not say i got the office to look good on paper God is watching all this. don’t write poeple off because you think they don’t look or live in certain ares-we all need each other.
sincely
ms.m.cook