Part 1: Former And Present Black Mayors Advise Norfolk’s Next Mayor

Editor’s Note: This version contains a correction over an earlier post that named James Overton as a councilman. Mr. Overton never served on Chesapeake City Council.

By Leonard E. Colvin
Chief Reporter
New Journal and Guide

When Kenneth C. Alexander is sworn in on July 1 as Norfolk’s new mayor, he will join  a  unique and growing club of Black men and women who have risen to the  most  prominent political  position in their community. Virginia Beach, Richmond, Norfolk,  Newport News,  Chesapeake and  Portsmouth are six  of the most populous cities in Virginia. Only the Beach has not elected  an African-American as mayor. In fact, it is the only  major city in Hampton Roads which has not.

Black mayors have been selected from among their colleagues on council, or in the case of Alexander in Norfolk,  by popular vote of the people, a policy Norfolk adopted in 2006. To lend a semblance of political inclusion, especially in cities with large Black populations, Blacks are frequently chosen as Vice Mayor. Newport News was the first area city to elect a Black mayor, Jessie Rattley in 1986.

Many locales grant a ceremonial role to the mayor job. Though these mayoral positions are ceremonial,  the office holder still has a vote, and with the title, the ability to cultivate and secure a bloc of votes on council to control the agenda and direction of policies. The daily operations of the city, such as the  hiring of  police  and fire chiefs and developing a budget are relegated to the City Manager and staff of most cities for the council’s approval.

Thanks to L. Douglas Wilder,  according to Newport News Mayor McKinley Price, Richmond  alone  adopted a  “strong mayor’ form of government, wielding vast powers to operate and control the daily operations of  the city. Recently the New Journal and Guide asked  a number of individuals who are current and past mayors to extend some advice to Norfolk’s mayor elect from their experiences in navigating the political, administrative, policy and social waters he will encounter once his tenure begins.

Former Mayor Bill Ward: Chesapeake

Former Chesapeake Mayor William Ward was first elected to council in 1978.  Twelve years later, he was elected the city’s first Black Mayor of the majority White suburban enclave.
Ward was a History Professor at NSU,  helped managed the election campaigns of the first two Blacks to sit on the council,  post Reconstruction – Dr. Hugo Owens, Sr. and  William Patrick Clark.

“When I was first elected to council, I was perceived as radical … and divisive; they did not know what to think of me,”  said Ward. “Over a period of time they got to know who I was … a voice for those neighborhoods which had been long ignored and the city as a whole. That’s how I  won their support to be mayor.” Ward said he adopted the leadership and coalition building concepts of political pioneers such as Owens and Overton in Chesapeake and Norfolk’s Joe Jordan, who worked to be an effective member of the city’s political power  structure.

“They were able to establish a Black agenda without being abrasive and divisive,” said Ward. “I wanted to work for the city as a whole.  But I had to remind my White colleagues   that  there was another community of  tax-paying  citizens in the Black community who also voted and expected city services, employment and respect.” Ward and other Black leaders interviewed for this story said  one of the first things they did  when they became mayor was  reach out to business leaders and other power broker to  listen to their concerns, their needs  and ideas on economic development and job growth, to build support dialogue.

Considering the political sophistication of Mayor-elect Alexander, they all assumed that he has checked this off his “to do list” since his campaign was embraced by a broad range of the  city’s business and civic elite. “The job  (of Mayor in Chesapeake)  is mostly a ceremonial one. But you can build a lot of  power influence,” said Ward.  “You  have to work closely with the  city manager and his staff who may be there long after you are gone.

“You have to study and have a working  knowledge of  their jobs and how they function  or  they could bypass  you by on critical issues and decisions,”  said Ward. “More importantly you must get all the facts to make a good decision and not draw conclusions, too quickly, especially.  Also, you really have to be careful maintaining the confidence of the public safety people.”

Mayor Kenny Wright: Portsmouth

In 2010, Kenneth Wright became the  second African-American Mayor of Portsmouth. Dr. James Holley, one of his mentors, who  served two non-consecutive terms, was the first. Wright has been clashing with White members of council and city officials over the past year over the budget and  working to reform city practices neutralizing what  he calls a “good ole boys” network of   political patronage which has concentrated power in the hands of a few powerful business  leaders, many of whom have moved out of the city. He is the target of a recall effort by residents who  believe they have “lost confidence in his leadership.”

But Wright said the political infighting is based on  the city’s remaining White population’s and  business  elite’s inability adapt to a Black political majority on council that is controlling the levels of power in the area’s largest majority Black city. “Despite what they say about me, I  believe in listening to the voice of the  people.  I know that not all of them come to the city hall,” said Wright. “So, you   have to be accessible. Every Sunday I am in at least four churches, not for political reasons but to listen to people. They do not always have nice things to say about the way we run the city. They have questions and  concerns and I want to hear them. I want to work to resolve any issues they have.”

Wright is quick to tout the economic development on display in downtown Portsmouth,   such as a new  apartments complex  and other investments to bolster the city tax base. “Norfolk has twice the population and economic power that we have in Portsmouth,” said Wright.  “But all of these communities have the tale of two cities.” “There  is one segment of the city which is prosperous and  doing well,” said  Wright. “Then there are other parts of the city where development and prosperity has driven by them. They are facing the bulk of the crime, poverty and the drop out rates.  He (Alexander) has to find a way to effectively address  all of these issues which are keeping these communities  behind. If not, these problems will impact on the city as a whole.”

Wright said that  Mayor-elect Alexander should  “lead the way” on promoting  economic and municipal  regionalism  to steer these (Hampton Roads) cities need to work together on these issues,” said Wright.  “I look forward to working with him and sharing ideas on issues our city and others have in common.”

Former Mayor, Current Councilman Curtis R. Milteer, Sr.: Suffolk

Representing the Whaleyville Borough of Suffolk, Curtis R. Milteer, Sr., is currently the longest serving  council member  in Virginia, first elected  in 1980. His colleagues selected him mayor in 2000-2002 to one term and he has also served as Vice Mayor. Suffolk elected it first post- Reconstruction era Black council member in that historic year of 1968: Moses Riddick, a civil rights activist.

Milteer, who is seeking his 10th consecutive term on council,  believes “ to be effective, you have to be a team player.” “I think you have to effectively communicate with all of the members of the council and get them to working together to benefit all of the city, not just one segment,” said Milteer, who is 85-years-old.  “You have to be honest and straight-forward personally and with policy, because you need to win and maintain confidence, whether you agree on a vote or not.”

Milteer led  the council when Suffolk was  invested in installing water, sewer and  storm drainage systems to many parts of the city’s poor Black  section which had long been ignored
Milteer admits that some of his strongest resistance came from African-American members of council and the community which did not always believe he was working in  the best interest of the Black community. “Some people want to  control your vote and disagree with you,” said Milteer “I’ve always strived to be fair. But I voted for the best interest of all people not just a certain group.”