Newport News council forum setup questioned, avoided by some

April 25--NEWPORT NEWS -- A clear divide between the establishment and anti-establishment in city politics was drawn clearer Thursday night at a forum less than two weeks before the May 6 municipal elections.

The Southern Christian Leadership Conference event was controversial from the get-go, and not just because of the candidates.

A promoter, Andrew Shannon -- also community activist and vocal critic of Mayor McKinley Price -- has worked with the campaigns of two first-time candidates with the express purpose of shifting the balance of power on council, he has said.

Shannon also brought in as one of the moderators sitting Councilwoman Pat Woodbury, who ran against Price four years ago and who frequently stakes out opposing views from the majority on council.

As the debate started, anticipating questions about the program, Shannon posed one himself, "Some may ask, 'Why is (Woodbury) moderating as a council member?' Well, she's a (SCLC) member."

Bert Bateman, a councilman running unopposed and who generally votes with the majority on council, expressed concerns with the setup before it got into full swing.

"I'm not going to sit here and let (the moderators) editorialize on the answers I give," Bateman told Shannon.

But for any concerns about impartiality, the forum was similar to earlier ones: those candidates campaigning on themes of change used the event as a platform to critique city shortfalls and push alternative themes of governing.

One of them, Libertarian-leaning South District candidate Pete Newman, said the best approach to crime is not to boost the size of the police department or spend money on anti-gang efforts but rather to teach self-defense tactics to homeowners.

Another South District hopeful Teunsha Vick questioned whether a $1.1 million new anti-gang initiative championed by the mayor would distribute funds effectively.

"We can't keep creating task forces and sitting around at meetings," she said.

Bateman and incumbent North District candidate Sharon P. Scott defended the program.

"This is groundbreaking," said Bateman of the plan, which seeks to intervene with gang members and potential gang members before they get in trouble with police.

Scott, who has two challengers, said she'd opposed an earlier iteration of the anti-gang plan that put money toward a new ball field. She said she strongly supports the new initiative, which is more narrowly focused on gangs and job training.

Two other supporters of the plan, South District candidates Saundra Cherry and Cleveland Mabry didn't attend the event.

Cherry, who is running with Price's endorsement, was at a meet-and-greet that was scheduled at an overlapping time.

Mabry, who's been endorsed by former Councilman Charles Allen, sent his regrets by email, which he also forwarded to the Daily Press.

Election date

The forum also brought up a new issue: Should May elections be moved to November when turnout is significantly higher thanks to federal and state races?

Sheryl Holmes Abbott, a health insurance worker, said, "I believe the city could save money (by combining the election with the bigger races). I think it'd be a lot easier and I think people are getting weary because we have an election every six months."

Bateman said moving the election could muddy what are now nominally non-partisan civic debates muddied by the partisanship of Richmond and Washington.

"I don't support moving the election date to November," he said. "I don't want my views and the views of the city to be marginalized by national politics."

The two North District challengers to Scott, held differing views on the issue.

Marcellus L. Harris III agreed with Bateman.

"Some of our local issues might get lost," Harris said.

The other challenger, Keven Underwood, said he's not so sure that's right

Underwood said Newport News voters are capable of doing their homework on elections enough to make informed decisions on national, state and local candidates.

Shapiro can be reached by phone at 757-247-4744

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