Don’t empower another incumbent. My latest op-ed appeared in The Virginian-Pilot Wednesday. In it, I attempt to make the case that the voters of Virginia Beach – not the ten members of City Council – should decide who represents them.
All of Virginia Beach council members are elected at-large, meaning that the entire city gets to vote. The appointee will serve briefly – just until the November special election. I think it is quite unfair to the other candidates in the election to appoint someone who will essentially be an incumbent and benefit from all that entails.
Surely in a city with nearly 438,000 people, there is one who is willing to serve and not run in November.
I can think of several such persons – and I hope one of them steps up and is selected.
The city is accepting applications through June 23 for the at-large seat which will become vacant June 18. As a part of the process, a questionnaire (pdf) will need to be completed.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
I believe it is un-American to ask somebody to give up thier right to run for office in exchange for an appointment to fill the position. JMO
No one i being asked to give up anything. Believe it or not, some people have no desire to run for office but would like to serve.
I don’t believe it is un-American to ask someone not to run. They have a right to run in the regular election and have the same advantage everyone else has so it is a level playing field. They do have a right to have an appointed position that gives them an advantage over others. No one should be given an advantage because people who know them put them in that spot.
Hampton had a similar situation and the last time they picked someone who did not plan on running. It worked out well because the person had run for council in the previous election but did not want to run again. He had almost gotten on council during that election and was very well respected. He served and did a good job. Then the next election we had a new council member.
I think being an incumbent not only shows the candidate won but did a good enough job where people will want to vote them back in. Since the seats are voted on at the next election after the appointment , depending on when appointed , the new person may not have attended enough meetings for people to get a since of them as a leader. It is making them an incumbent without all the effort others have to put into the election process. That to me is more un-American.
Open the phone book and pick a name. Could that person be any worse than the other nine?
Virginia Beach has 10 council members? What genius decided on the even number?
How do they resolve ties? Motion defeated on a tie vote?
Virginia Beach has 11 council members. The vacancy will be filled by the remaining 10.
Looking at the responses above, I’m wondering why somebody would bother to comment on VB issues when they don’t have a clue as to the numbers of seats actually on the VB’s city council…
Maybe because the exact number is irrelevant.