Top, from left: Ella P. Ward, John de Triquet, Susan Vitale, Santiera Brown-Yearling, Patricia Y. King, Amanda L. Newins. Bottom, from left: Daniel W. Whitaker, Les Smith Jr., Karen Moultrie, N. Baxter Ennis, C. Jeff Bunn. Note: Two other candidates, B.D. Knowles and Brian Scott Economy, did not provide photos. (Courtesy images)
Age: 76
Occupation: City Council member; Retired Portsmouth Public Schools Administrator
Previous offices held: Chesapeake City Council, 4 terms (16 years); Chesapeake School Board, 1 and ½ terms (6 years)
Education: Norfolk State University, bachelor of arts in English, 1969; Norfolk State University, master of arts in mass communication, 1977; Old Dominion University, master of science in secondary education and administration, 1993; Virginia Tech, graduate certificate, educational leadership, 1999; Virginia Tech, doctoral degree in educational leadership and policy, no year listed.
What experience do you have that makes you qualified to serve on Chesapeake City Council?
The experience that I have that qualifies me to serve on Chesapeake City Council is the fact that I have served as a member of Chesapeake City Council for 16 consecutive years, and I received the highest number of votes in my last election which was held in May 2018. I was appointed by my City Council colleagues to serve on two regional boards, the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission and the Hampton Roads Transportation Organization for more than 14 consecutive years. I was elected to serve two terms on the Chesapeake School Board, and I ran for City Council during my second school board term so that I could help to ensure that our Chesapeake schools were adequately funded. I also served eight years on the Virginia Board of Education and eight years on the Board of Visitors of Christopher Newport University.
If elected, what would be your top priority and how would you get it done?
If re-elected, my top priorities would be the following: supporting and funding our public safety officers and general employees; supporting and funding Chesapeake Public Schools; keeping taxes low by expanding commercial development and supporting small business; supporting broadband to promote business expansion and connectivity; and restoring curbside recycling.
I would get this done by collaborating and working with the other eight members of City Council to get at least the five votes needed to support my top priorities.
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Age: 73
Occupation: Pediatrician, Pediatric Specialists
Previous office held: Vice mayor, Chesapeake City Council, current
Education: St. Vincent College, bachelor of science in biology, 1970; Temple University Medical School, doctor of medicine, 1974; U.S. Navy, internship and pediatric residency, 1974-1978
What experience do you have that makes you qualified to serve on Chesapeake City Council?
I currently serve as vice mayor. Over my years of service on the Chesapeake City Council I have been privileged to participate in ongoing initiatives to make Chesapeake the best place to live, work, learn and raise a family. My record is one of fiscal discipline and transparency; stimulating our economic growth to benefit our city and region; providing ongoing funding to our public schools for exceptional educational opportunities; and continuing commitment to keep our city safe at home, on the streets and in our schools
Each of these has been accomplished with a firm underlying principle: active citizen input and participation in every endeavor that affects the needs and desires of Chesapeake’s families.
If elected, what would your top priority be and how would you get it done?
In a city of a quarter-million citizens, there are always a number of essential areas that require attention. Focusing on a single priority risks shortchanging other necessities. All of the following are vital to Chesapeake: Keep the tax burden to the essential minimum, as my record demonstrates; Keep our homes, streets and schools safe; I will continue to support further strengthening the Public Safety Pay Plan to retain and attract the best police, firefighters and sheriff’s deputies, as well as developing ongoing community involvement and participation; Strengthen our schools; I will continue to support funding for smaller class sizes, vocational opportunities, pay to retain and attract the best teachers and necessary school maintenance and construction; Enhance quality of life opportunities for our families; I will continue to work for increased funding for recreational facilities and open space.
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Age: 55
Occupation: Managing Director at Microsoft Corporation
Previous office held: Chesapeake City Council, current
Education: Touro University International, master’s degree in business administration, 2002; Rochester Institute of Technology, bachelor of science in accounting, 1989
What experience do you have that makes you qualified to serve on Chesapeake City Council?
My 26-year career as a Naval intelligence officer — tracking everything from enemy submarines to folks who wanted to harm America — taught me to think critically, and do so quickly. Those experiences inform my sense of executive leadership, strategic planning and program management. But more than that, public service has taught me to always listen first and avoid assumptions.
If elected, what would be your top priority and how would you get it done?
As a member of City Council, I’ve worked to help everyone grow and prosper, and keep Chesapeake one of Virginia’s safest places to live. But it’s not about the past.
Instead, it’s about looking ahead to bring high-speed internet to every corner of our city. As chair of the Southside Network Authority, I’m doing that.
It’s about creating master plans to better guide growth. As Chesapeake grows, planning can’t be an abstract notion. It’s about planning for environmental answers that make sense and giving taxpayers choices that make sense.
It’s about keeping our fiscal house in order, giving back when we can, helping seniors with tax abatements they deserve and keeping Chesapeake an affordable community.
And as a parent, it’s about ensuring that our children are among Virginia’s best-educated.
But how to get these things done? Serve with an open mind and never forget who you work for.
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Age: 36
Occupation: Respiratory therapist
Education: Regent University, master of arts in law, 2022; University of Maryland Global Campus, master of science in healthcare administration, 2017; Tidewater Community College, associate of applied science in respiratory therapy, 2011; Virginia Wesleyan University, bachelor of arts in recreation and leisure studies, 2008
What experience do you have that makes you qualified to serve on Chesapeake City Council?
I am a healthcare professional and community advocate who serves people with compassion and integrity through education, volunteering for nonprofit organizations and gathering resources for those in need. I am a public servant who serves on the Chesapeake Commission on Health and Well Being to advise city council on healthcare initiatives that impact our families. I am qualified to serve on Chesapeake City Council because my faith has led me to serve, to be a good steward, to listen more, to learn more and to understand and elevate voices in all our communities.
If elected, what would be your top priority and how would you get it done?
If elected, my top priority would be to continue to engage with residents throughout the city to understand issues that are affecting our communities. If elected, I will work with city council members to elevate those concerns and find commonality to reach well-defined solutions for all areas of our city.
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Age: 61
Occupation: Medical doctor
Previous office held: Chesapeake School Board, current
Education: Howard University, bachelor of arts in chemistry and mathematics, 1982; Meharry Medical College, doctor of medicine, 1989; Eastern Virginia Medical School, psychiatry residency, 1993
What experience do you have that makes you qualified to serve on Chesapeake City Council?
I have been honored to serve the city of Chesapeake as a school board member for the last four years. Together, the board members, collaboratively, respectfully and with dignity, led the district safely through the worst pandemic in over one 100 years. As a city council member, I plan to use my leadership skills, knowledge and experiences to build a better Chesapeake. I believe in and love this city.
I am a community advocate, a problem solver, a critical thinker and a consensus builder.
I am a visionary and a loyal resident of Chesapeake who will bring integrity and a strong work ethic to the city council. The constituents of this city can always trust me to be guided by my moral compass.
If elected, what would be your top priority and how would you get it done?
My top priority is to ensure that Chesapeake provides resources for our friends and neighbors who are facing mental health challenges and addictions. I want to ensure that Chesapeake has emergency hospital beds, addiction treatment programs as well as an expanded community service board that reaches deeper into the community. I want to ensure that the city provides educational forums and learning opportunities for the community to become better informed about mental illness, addictions, youth suicides and the rising number of overdose deaths. Knowledge gives us the power to overcome the deadly effects of these conditions.
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Age: 30
Occupation: Attorney
Previous office held: None
Education: Green Run High School, 2010; James Madison University, bachelor of arts in justice studies and mathematics, 2014; Regent University School of Law, juris doctor, 2016
What experience do you have that makes you qualified to serve on Chesapeake City Council?
In my practice as an attorney, I resolve conflict for my clients by respecting different opinions, listening, negotiating and finding solutions. I have unique experiences and skill sets both as an attorney and in my outreach in underserved areas of the city.
As a former prosecutor, I’m not only familiar with the law, but I have trusted relationships with our community. I also serve as a court-appointed attorney, representing clients who otherwise cannot afford legal representation. Having worked in fast food to afford college and serving as a 9-1-1 dispatcher in college to continue funding my education, I learned budgetary responsibility at a very early age. I also serve on several boards, including the Hampton Roads Chamber Chesapeake Division, Chesapeake Rotary, Chesapeake Bar Association and Virginia State Bar Young Lawyer’s Conference. I understand the value of teamwork as well as how to successfully lead an organization.
If elected, what would be your top priority and how would you get it done?
The safety of our community is at the forefront of all other priorities as our businesses, schools and quality of life depend on it. As our crime rates are rising across the nation, it’s important now more than ever that we fully fund our first responders so they can do the job they were trained to do – keep us safe. We must provide competitive pay and resources/technology to recruit and retain our qualified law enforcement, firefighters, paramedics and dispatchers in Chesapeake. By having long-term assignments of officers and public safety personnel to specific neighborhoods or areas, we can enhance and facilitate a stronger relationship and mutual accountability between our public safety and our community as we work together to keep our community safe.
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Age: 46
Occupation: Owner-operator of D2W Electric Inc.
Previous office held: None
Education: Oscar Smith High School, 1994; Trade Designations Master Electrician in VA, licensing in NC
What experience do you have that makes you qualified to serve on Chesapeake City Council?
As someone who is a lifelong resident of Chesapeake, I know our community. I am a graduate of Oscar Smith High School and attended Tidewater Community College. I also own a business in our city, D2W Electric Inc. My experience with business has taught me how to relate with people of various backgrounds and political ideals, which made me a great listener. Furthermore, running a small business has given me operation skills. I know how to manage and oversee everything that gets done, a skill that I will use in making sure that Chesapeake is run smoothly. I do not let things get swept under the rug or put them to the side, I take them on at full speed. With my grassroot connections to Chesapeake and successful business traits, I am ready to get to work for the people of Chesapeake!
If elected, what would be your top priority and how would you get it done?
Put Chesapeake first! At the end of the day what matters the most to me is that Chesapeake is rightly served. That entails supporting and growing small businesses. This is accomplished through not adding or increasing taxes that would hurt small business. I will crush any attack on small business coming from taxes or government overregulation. Another way I will support Chesapeake’s small businesses is by advocating for them. When I represent you on City Council, I am your voice promoting what will benefit you best. Lastly, I believe that Chesapeake simply needs better opportunities for new small businesses. By restoring South Norfolk and cracking down on its crime, we will give Chesapeake a historic district to be proud of, attracting small business customers from all over Hampton Roads. We also need a boardwalk in Great Bridge, giving small businesses a place to serve boaters. As a small business owner myself, I know firsthand that this will make Chesapeake flourish.
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Age: 61
Occupation: Self-employed in the financial industry
Previous office held: None
Education: St. Paul’s College, bachelor of science in business administration, 1983; University of Richmond, master of science in human resource management, 2007
What experience do you have that makes you qualified to serve on Chesapeake City Council?
My experience is my life experiences in the city of Chesapeake growing up in public schools, public housing, college degrees in business administration and human resource management; 28 years of service with Chesapeake Sheriff’s Office and 24 of them in a supervisory role; taking on a leadership role in numerous organizations and programs; advocating for communities and organization to help their concerns to be heard or handled; my ability to lead, plan, negotiate and compromise; my understanding and being familiar with the many stakeholders of the city; and my years of public service to my community and city as a citizen and as a law enforcement officer.
If elected, what would be your top priority and how would you get it done?
When elected my focus would be to attract more small and big businesses to Chesapeake. That would be accomplished by utilizing the expertise of our Economic Development Department, getting parcels of land turn key ready (utility equipped) for businesses wanting to come to the area, getting our workforce trained to take on the demand of businesses, having amenities in place that would attract businesses to the city like more upscale restaurants, convention center, fine arts center and a sportsplex, which will increase interest of more hotels and other chains of support businesses.
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Age: 35
Occupation: Supply Systems Analyst
Previous office held: None
Education: University of Charleston, doctoral in education-organizational leadership, 2019; no other degrees listed.
What experience do you have that makes you qualified to serve on Chesapeake City Council?
Honestly, I don’t have a fancy political background or a long Chesapeake political brag sheet. Aside from being a devoted community servant leader and proud veteran the significant reason voters should elect me is because I’m demanding the voices of everyday people to be heard. I’m advocating for the underserved people. There are communities of people in Chesapeake who are directly impacted from their voices being often excluded from places of power. If given the opportunity, I can drastically change that narrative. I’m a new face whose only allegiance is to improving the quality of living in Chesapeake for ALL, not just some. Chesapeake needs bold servant leadership that makes zero excuses and has the courage to address urgent city needs. There are no hidden agendas on my end. My allegiance is never for sale. I’m breaking the norm and hoping the people of Chesapeake allow me to rock the boat and be their voice while unapologetically serving the underserved.
If elected, what would be your top priority and how would you get it done?
The most pressing issue is lack of funds provided for underserved communities. Expose the race disparities and work with city leaders to rectify this issue. We need community unity and all hands regarding this issue.
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Age: 69
Occupation: Consultant, Public Relations and Events
Previous office held: None
Education: Campbell University, bachelor of science in history, 1975; University of Georgia, master of arts in journalism, 1987
What experience do you have that makes you qualified to serve on Chesapeake City Council?
I have spent my adult life dedicated to service and getting things done. A 21-year Army veteran, I retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. I served two combat tours with the 82d Airborne Division. As a public affairs officer during combat tours, I worked with every major news organization in the world. I understand the importance of good communication. I have served in various leadership positions in Hampton Roads including: President of the Chesapeake Rotary Club, President of the Va. Beach Forum, President of the Hampton Roads Leadership Prayer Breakfast. I am in my third year of service as a member of the Chesapeake Hospital Authority and am a current member of the Executive Committee. I led the highly successful Executive Leadership Series at Regent University for 10 years. I served on the Mayor’s Commission on Veterans Affairs and currently serve on the board of the Chesapeake Forum.
If elected, what would be your top priority and how would you get it done?
Chesapeake is a wonderful place to live, work, play, raise a family and grow a business, and it is critical that we keep our city safe! Keeping our streets, neighborhoods and schools safe would be my top priority. We can help do this by strongly supporting our police, sheriff, fire and all public safety teams and ensure that they are well funded and have the necessary facilities, equipment and training to continue to do a superb job. I will work hard with my fellow council members, our school board and our state representatives to make sure our schools, and our precious children and grandchildren, are as safe as we can possibly make them.
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Age: 58
Occupation: Retired, city of Chesapeake, 37 years; Realtor
Previous office held: Chesapeake School Board, appointed in 2006, elected in 2008, 2012 and 2016; served as member, vice chair and chair; Governor’s School for the Arts Regional Board, vice chairman.
Education: Great Bridge High School graduate, 1982; Tidewater Community College, attended, no degree listed.
What experience do you have that makes you qualified to serve on Chesapeake City Council?
My service as a city employee has given me years of the experience listening to our citizens and businesses assisting them in achieving their goals. Also, my service on the Chesapeake School Board helped me see how very important it is be able to work well with others to develop positive policies. As a lifetime resident of the city, I have strong ties to the community and have been involved with several civic and community organizations.
If elected, what would be your top priority and how would you get it done?
I will work to ensure the quality of life in Chesapeake meets the expectations of our citizens by supporting public safety, schools, parks and economic development. It starts with having a safe city, safe schools and safe neighborhoods. Supporting our public safety and giving them the tools to be successful is critical to our success. In addition, I will promote a quality education by supporting our students, teachers and staff. My experience working in the department of economic development showed me the importance of attracting new businesses to our city. Achieving these goals will come from working with council to fund, develop and set policies to make Chesapeake the best it can be.
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Editor’s note: Other candidates for Chesapeake City Council include B.D. Knowles and Brian Scott Economy, both of whom did not respond to multiple requests for information.
Copyright © 2022, The Virginian-Pilot
Copyright © 2022, The Virginian-Pilot
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