NORFOLK - - Facing the prospect that rogue, racist desposed vice mayor of Norfolk, Paul Riddick is going to be the next chairman of troubled Hampton Roads Transit, fellow commissioners may not need to worry.
Records over the last 4 years show that Riddick only attends meetings about half the time.
His is among the worst attendance records of the 20 commissioners. Also it was revealed that Norfolk Councilman Randy Wright, the city's other member, and Riddick took a junket to Madrid, Spain at a total cost to taxpayers of $5,657 for a 7-day trip in 2003. Other records were not available Thursday.
HRT's executive board met Tuesday and Riddick was nominated, but no vote was taken nor will it be taken until The board regular meeting later this month.
Each locality has 2 members on the board. Virginia Beach's city councilman Jim Wood is currently the chairman. The chairmanship rotates among the 7 member municipalities annually.
Norfolk Councilman Wright was in line to be the chairman starting this July, but he failed to win reelection.
Councilman Riddick, much to the anguish of other members, is next in the rotation to be chairman when Wood steps down.
Riddick was dumped as vice mayor over racist, radical remarks and behavior. He has been a outspoken racist rogue through much of his career and in and out of various behavioral troubles, including throwing a ham at a person.
Several members are concerned about his unpredictable behavior, particularly when he doesn't get his way.
Two or more fellow commissioners have threatened to resign rather than serve under his chairmanship.
If bad comes to worse, theoretically the Norfolk council could remove him at its HRT representative and appoint someone else.
One commissioner said he was part of a 'black posse' that helped hide the fact that the HRT-managed Light Rail project was over-budget by $108M and way behind schedule, in order to help black HRT manager Michael Townes save his job.
The 'black posse,' a source said knew about the massive cost overrun 3 months before others members and the public, but didn't disclose it.
Once it was disclosed, Chairman Wood and others forced Townes resignation. The hired for VDOT super-manager Phil Shucet at $40,000/a month to restructure the mismanaged agency and brought organization, efficiency, and transparency to its operation.
See also: Norfolk's racist, rogue X-Vice Mayor to in line to head HRT today
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