At a Saturday, August 25,  candidates forum sponsored by the Virginia Beach Taxpayer Alliance (VBTA),  former GOP city committee chairman Kenny Golden, leading a reform ticket of David McCormick, and Chuck Smith set the agenda:  No New Taxes in outlining plans to streamline are reform government.

The event, featuring a $3 continential breakfast, drew an almost standing room only crowd.

Golden is opposing at-large incumbent candidate Rosemary Wilson.  She is a Realtor with Mayor Will Sessoms’ real estate and bank.  McCormick is running against incumbent Glenn R. Davis Jr., and Chuck Smith is in a race against Bill Dale, Amelia Ross-Hammond, and former councilman Don Weeks for the Kempsville District seat being vacated by former Fire Chief Harry Diezel.

Wilson and Ross-Hammond did not appear.  Ross-Hammond earlier in the week sent out a news release saying one of her goals was to help veterans get better medical service, but it was pointed out that isn’t a role for a member of council or anything in which she could have any influence.

Dale, a former Catholic priest, proved he’s simply a shill for Mayor:  He and Davis both are supported by radical liberal activist Mike Barrett.

Dale supports keeping all taxes and fees intact, won’t rule out further increases in taxes and fees, support for a pig-in-the-poke sports arena (even though he knows nothing about it), and is an advocate of light rail.

Golden, retired military aviator, McCormick, a bankruptcy lawyer, and Smith, retired Navy JAG officer and a lawyer, all opposed without equivocation new taxes, fees, supported reducing taxes and fees, and opposed any sports arena, and light rail.

Dale even supported the BPOL tax, passed to finance the war of 1812 and never removed from the books.  Even Davis, considered a ‘loose’ affiliated of Sessoms’ power establishment on council, even supported abolition of the BPOL tax.  He didn’t oppose light rail, but left the question open.  He has split with Sessoms at least on one council vote.

Golden, McCormick, and Smith are supported and known as the Conservative Coalition Ticket.  Davis, Wilson, and Dale are on a ticket supported by Sessoms, a source said last week.

Wilson has never voted against a tax or fee increase since joining council in 2000.  Her support is based in the business and real estate community.

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John P. Kuchta, Jr.  - Truth Detective |173.50.64.235 |08-29-2012 08:23:37 Here's a trick question: How far out-of-touch with economic reality can you be than to propose keeping high tax rates high and saddling the citizenry with new debt (light rail)? Like they used to say in the sixties 'Man, that cat's so far out, he ain't never been in!" The way forward is crystal clear. Elect Golden, Smith and McCormick to join Moss and DeSteph on the City Council and put "RK" at the helm to replace the guy whose photo appeared in his 2008 campaign with his hero, President Obama. I'll just bet that you're soon going to see that poster plastered all over town! Sessoms and Obama DO make a lovely pair, don't they? Reply

Wally Erb  - A genuine candidate |74.98.191.182 |08-31-2012 03:16:11 As an attendee of the subject forum, I am disappointed that former City Councilman Don Weeks' positions were omitted from the above article. Weeks, who led the defeat of the first light rail initiative, was purposely targeted for defeat, as was Reba McClanan, by the likes of Will Sessoms and Billy Harrison for putting residents before the money interests in Virginia Beach. His performance at the forum was genuine no nonsense responses to the moderator's questions. Unlike the other candidates, he is unencumbered by an loyalty to a coalition or political party. He is a true representative of Virginia Beach families. Reply

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