In our latest poll, I asked who was your first choice in the Virginia Beach City Council At-Large contest field. With a new record of 220 votes cast, Dave Redmond won with 40% of the vote. While Andrew Jackson will be my first vote, as he's the candidate who would push Virginia Beach towards where it needs to be in the future, I'm leaning towards Redmond as my second vote in that he's the best-suited towards managing today's problems.
In 2nd Place was Wally Erb at 31%. Wally pushed trying to get a light rail referendum question on this November's ballot, claiming it was simply to give the public a vote...but admits he'd campaign against it in a referendum campaign. Wally is a Libertarian who decries subsidies...but is pushing a "Tricare/Medicare Initiative" that would have the City's General Fund subsidize his doctor. Does the Erb Campaign logo have two pictures of him, one of each of his faces?
Surprisingly, James Cabiness finished 3rd at 18%. I'll take a serious look at him if Redmond disappoints.
Andrew Jackson and Rita Sweet Bellitto each got 4%, with John Moss at 2%. Bill DeSteph finished last with three votes. Was that Bill, his girlfriend, and his girlfriend's mother?
The new poll question: should the radar at Oceana be moved? Taller buildings in the Resort Area are and would obstruct it.
11 comments:
There is absolutely no way Wally comes in the top 3 in this race, much less 2nd place.
And as much as I would like to believe it, I'm pretty sure DeSteph will bankroll himself enough to make a much better showing.
Top 3 will be Belitto, Redmond and DeSteph. In what order is anyone's guess.
I don't agree that a Top 3 finish is a given for DeSteph. If Moss and Erb bleed off enough Deaniac votes, Bill is in the proverbial "deep doo-doo".
what about his megabucks?
If you think "megabucks" are a panacea, ask Page Lea, The Yes Campaign, Marty Williams, et al
I disagree. Desteph has never been shy about bragging about his riches, so I'm sure his ego won't allow him to lose. Look for him to put a couple hundred thousand in.
Money mostly buys you marketing. How would you market Bill DeSteph? He can't run against Council, as he's been a Councilman for four years now. He can't run on his record of accomplishment, as he's never got a major initiative passed.
How?
I can think of a lot of ways to market against DeSteph but none for him!
I can think of plenty of reasons to vote for Desteph. He's one of the only people that I actually get responses from when I email questions about the budget. I don't agree with him on everything, but at least he can give me a reason for the way he voted. Even his proposal for light rail is one of the only plans that I've heard that actually makes sense.
As far as his megabucks,I don't see how spending 20+ years in the service and creating multiple successful companies, could be seen as a negative. I'd rather see a guy like that working on my budget than a person using the seat as a stepping stone to higher political office.
So he can give you reasons why he DID NOT vote for the budgets?
By that logic, he can take credit for nothing that the city does, good or bad, because he doesn't vote to fund anything.
So whatever his light rail proposal is, you don't have to worry because he will not vote for it when the time comes!
With regard to the other posts about his money, it's not negative that he is rich. Rather a question of how much of his own money he will put in.
Actually DeSteph can take credit for all the positive issue in this city including the lowest tax rate in the area just like any of the other five council members can. He is part of that group and can run on the city record of low taxes, awards and AAA bond rating. You may not want to accept it, but the majority of voters are not going to care about the BS. They are going to vote against the current members(throw the bums out) or vote to continue along the path the city is on. JMO
Anon 9:53,
DeSteph voted against the measures to achieve those goals...but can take credit for them? I don't think so.
Also, all politics in Virginia Beach don't neatly fit into two boxes. There are at least 3 distinct camps, which requires coalition-building to win a Council seat.
Self-financing might get DeSteph around a lack of business community support. However, he has no minority organization support, and other candidates will also be going for the suburbanite vote.
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