The Truth Will Prevail in Virginia Beach

Bruce Thompson recently mentioned me in an article and threatened to leave the city entirely if there was a change in leadership on the Virginia Beach City Council. After my response, he then dismissed my opinion, doubled-down and said that I “went nuts” and I am “jealous”.

Are we unable to even gracefully disagree?

Overreactions like this is a prime example of why many people become frustrated about getting involved in politics. Mr. Thompson painted my disagreement with a brush of hysteria; perhaps that is how he handles dissent.

Despite his business successes here, Mr. Thompson threatened to pull his investment from the the city altogether if there was new city leadership – a mighty thick line to draw in the sand. Why would a potential change in leadership shift your bottom line so drastically that you would seek an entirely new location?

Well, there are theories.

Crony capitalism: an economic system in which certain businesses are given unfair advantages by government officials; that’s a $36 million pill for some of us to swallow. Considering the megadonor status of Mr. Thompson in buying influence with several government officials through campaign contributions, the inappropriateness practically writes itself.

Cronyism is a term that Mr. Thompson attempts to shrug off, but it has surfaced that Mr. Thompson did in fact enjoy preferential treatment from the City in 2013 with the bidding process on the Cavalier project; he was given insider information that other bidders were not. Mr. Thompson was offered incentives that other bidders were not. These facts were reported in this very newspaper on November 8, 2015, more than two years after investigative journalism uncovered the truth.

Saving the iconic Cavalier and the amount of taxpayer money that has been funneled to it are entirely different issues that should not be conflated with the process that I raised concern with originally: the City should not be picking winners and losers. In an economic system that turns a blind eye to the deleterious effects of cronyism, insiders such as Mr. Thompson are insulated from competition while their pockets are deepened from political connections and taxpayers are left to absorb the risk. This rings true in light of the recent Disparity Study that was unveiled to City Council this week, which shows that a steep disparity still persists in city contracts awarded to women and certain ethnic groups. A more equitable, level playing field will foster competition, encourage economic growth and will signal that our City is open for business for all.

Mr. Thompson also used a tactic called gaslighting – putting audacious words in my mouth in an attempt to mischaracterize and isolate. His claim centered on that I am against all Public Private Partnerships and cites educational cornerstones in our community like the Virginia Aquarium (which I’ve always supported). He uses this example as a cover for all types of Public Private Partnerships – including the ones that have enriched his own personal business interests. Public Private Partnerships can certainly be beneficial – when there is minimal risk, a real public need is addressed and there is public ownership in the project.

However, we the taxpayers, are not Mr. Thompson’s personal bank, and we must judiciously protect public funds for our responsibilities in public safety, education, infrastructure and transportation. We all have to find a way to make our household budgets work with what he have, and our City budget should strive to mirror your own.

The compromise budget proposal my Council colleagues and I unilaterally voted in featured no tax and fee increases for only the second time in 25 years. Mr. Thompson wrongly accused the alternate budget I co-sponsored with Councilmembers Moss and Dyer of “raiding” the TIP fund for garbage trucks (that was a recommendation made by the City Manager and was not a part of the original budget proposal we co-sponsored). Mr. Thompson also charged that our first budget proposal would have “stripped funding for stormwater projects”. Better flooding mitigation has always remained one of my top priorities even before Hurricane Matthew, so I honestly do not know how anyone could have any different impression. Councilmembers Moss, Dyer and I initially tried to fund the nearly half a billion dollars in flooding projects in 6 years, not 15, without raising taxes or fees – but the majority of City Council chose to not make flooding a budgetary priority.

In conclusion, Mr. Thompson, just so we’re clear – I refuse to be chained inside of your fabricated “No Team”. I have high standards of how our city conducts business and this does not make me a naysayer, nor as you stated, one who is “cursing the wind”.

This election offers us a choice: we can choose fiscal responsibility or we can choose higher taxes and fees and more debt. We can put the needs of our classrooms, our public safety professionals and our neighborhoods ahead of the wants of an elite few. I urge Beach residents who also want good government to join me in supporting Bobby Dyer for mayor and John Moss and Aaron Rouse for at-large City Council members, as well as Louis Jones in the Bayside District, Eric Wray in the Centerville District and Tim Worst in the Princess Anne District.

No matter the outcome of the election, we must find a way to work together. We live in a truly great place and so many of us are happy to call it home.

2018 Virginia Beach City Council Endorsements

Endorsement Palm Card Front

Virginia Beach is a great place to call home, but we need a better direction moving forward. The upcoming election is crucial to determining the direction of our city: we need to let our voice be heard loud and clear.

I urge Beach residents who also want better government to join me in supporting these candidates who have earned my trust and my support:

Bobby Dyer – Mayor

I support my colleague Bobby Dyer for Mayor of Virginia Beach! It’s been a privilege serving with Bobby and he truly cares about this great city and all of its citizens. Bobby co-sponsored our recent alternate budget proposal that prioritized funding a better solution to fixing flooding and public safety pay compression – with no tax or fee increases. He listens to the people of Virginia Beach and will continue serving our city with honor. He is far and away our best choice for Mayor and it is very important that we support his campaign. Please like and share his page and request a yard sign!

John Moss – At-Large

I support my colleague John Moss for one of the At-large seats on City Council! It’s been such a privilege serving with John. He is a wealth of knowledge and an unwavering source of virtue. His mayoral campaign in 2008 was the first campaign my now-husband and I worked on right out of high school and I’ve been a supporter of his ever since. It’s been such a rich learning experience serving with an advocate for the great people of Virginia Beach. His ability to inform the voters of Virginia Beach is unparalleled and in two short years I have learned so much from his experience. It is very important that we support his campaign. Please like and share his page and request a yard sign!

Aaron Rouse – At-Large

I support Aaron Rouse for one of the At-large seats! Aaron understands servant leadership and will be a great representative for understanding the needs of the people. Aaron will stand up for economic fairness, job growth, public safety, education and better solutions to fixing flooding. Please like and share his page and request a yard sign!

Louis Jones – Bayside

I support Louis Jones for the Bayside seat! The Bayside District and the Kempsville District are neighbors and a great working relationship is integral to not only the success of these two parts of the city, but also to City Council. Louis has gone out of his way to offer support to me in my first term. He is sincere in his love for the city and I admire his willingness to serve the great people of Virginia Beach.

Eric Wray – Centerville

I support Eric Wray for the Centerville seat! I’ve personally known Eric for many years and he will be an excellent addition to City Council. Eric will be a dedicated public servant committed to transparency and representing our priorities on Council. He is a small business owner and understands the obstacles facing our community and will promote job growth, public safety and flooding mitigation. Please like and share his page and request a yard sign!

Tim Worst – Princess Anne

I support Tim Worst for the Princess Anne seat! It’s important for City Council to reflect the needs of its citizens, and Tim is a down-to-earth person who will bring a sense of understanding the needs of regular people in Virginia Beach. Tim will be a solid supporter of a level economic playing field, public safety, education, job growth and funding better flooding solutions. Please like and share his page and request a yard sign!

 

 

 

Vote for Change in Virginia Beach

Earlier this week, hotelier Bruce Thompson threatened to pull his investments out of our region if there was a “change in leadership” this November. He specifically called me out as well as fellow Councilmembers John Moss and Bobby Dyer, and was disappointed to see our “failure” to recognize the importance of economic development incentives. He mentioned his concern for our city’s future.

Bruce Thompson wants to take his ball and go home.

Make no mistake about it – the mega-donor that has personally contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars over the past twenty years to candidates and political committees has enjoyed what is rightfully perceived as preferential treatment from local officials on expensive development projects. I have much respect for anyone who invests so much in their community and creates economic vitality, but I believe that his newest thinly-veiled threat comes from a fear of having to compete on an even economic playing field that the rest of us have to contend with in our day-to-day lives.

Solid business plans shouldn’t have to depend on receiving special treatment from the government to stay in business. When fairness, more choice and level rules are threatening, something has truly gone wrong in our economic system.

Cronyism is a disease of economic vitality; it deepens the pockets of those with entrenched political connections and insulates them from the competition of a level economic playing field. This also hinders economic growth and serves as a signal that cities that engage in such favoritism are closed for business. It puts the wants of the elite few before the needs of the many, and cronyism also has a tendency to distort the political process in which we choose our representatives to maintain our interests.

For the record and on the contrary, I support legitimate economic development and sustainability for our city and our region.

We have become too overly dependent on putting our eggs in two baskets – tourism and military spending. We must find a new way forward that protects our investments in these industries while vigorously diversifying our economy. Economic growth needs more than a slew of low-wage jobs; we need high-wage careers in expanding industries that will help propel our city and our region into the new 21st Century economy. We must foster our incredible potential to develop local talent to thrive on a level economic playing field and focus on sustainability.

Taxpayers are tired of being treated like ATMs with tax and fee increases. They have their own concerns – raising a family, surviving their retirement, keeping their businesses afloat – which have fallen upon many deaf ears… only to see those same ears perk up when developers threaten to leave our town altogether if they don’t get their way.

Well, Mr. Thompson, we’re all concerned for our future. I am concerned for our future, too. That’s why I ran for City Council two years ago. I ran because we have some enormous challenges facing our community. Our economic growth has lagged state and national averages. Unfunded pension liabilities are being treated like cans being kicked down the curb of unraveling local debt. A few inches of rain exposes the decades of negligence in updating our stormwater infrastructure. Pay compression for our public safety professionals has just scratched the surface, our schools need to be modernized, and our public transportation system desperately needs to be revamped.

If you’re concerned, too, I urge you to join me in supporting John Moss and Bobby Dyer, Eric Wray, John Coker and Aaron Rouse as a clean slate of new candidates that share our concerns and our values this November. This is our home and we must stand up for a better direction forward for Virginia Beach.