THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, July 2, 1994 TAG: 9407020653
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANCIE LATOUR
STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 89 lines
When attorney Paul D. Fraim first teamed up with veteran City Councilman Mason C. Andrews in 1986, he was the newcomer bringing fresh blood to a joint candidacy.
On Friday night, after eight years as a councilman, Fraim was appointed to fill the shoes of his former running mate, Mayor Andrews.
He will do so, he said, by building on the same priorities he advocated when he entered the political scene - namely, harmony and responsibility.
After a unanimous vote by his colleagues, Fraim was sworn in as Norfolk's mayor, vowing to develop the vision of harmonious government laid out by former mayors.
``The importance of council harmony also suggests the importance of racial harmony,'' said Fraim, taking the center seat at the dais. ``The votes for mayor and vice mayor tonight show that the biracial coalition that has served this city for years will remain intact.''
In his first order of business as mayor, Fraim presided over the nomination of Paul L. Riddick as vice mayor. The vote to appoint Riddick was unanimous.
Fraim, who represents Ward 2, also pledged to provide responsible, day-to-day government that listens to the diversity of voices in the city and responds.
The half-hour swearing-in ceremony unfolded with the predictability that had been expected after Andrews said he would not seek a third two-year term as mayor.
In an interview earlier Friday, Fraim said one of his greatest roles would be that of communicator:
``I'm going to spend a great deal of time listening to the voices of the council, and including a lot of people to express their opinions in order to build consensus and move forward.''
Even more important than pure economic development gains, he said, is a long-term vision of Norfolk as the region's cultural, financial and educational hub.
``Defining (Norfolk) as a leading city, the heart of the region, will give the city purpose and a conscience,'' Fraim said.
Also sworn in Friday was Councilman Herbert M. Collins.
Fraim said he, Riddick and Collins together would usher in a new council unlike any of past years.
``Herb Collins has a whole new set of priorities, and we will listen to them as he listens to us,'' Fraim said.
Fellow council members agreed that the three would bring new energy to the council.
``It will be a more broad-based process, and including more people is what makes our city its strongest,'' Councilman W. Randy Wright said.
Fraim, president of the law firm of Heilig, McKenry, Fraim & Lollar, was a driving force in the Harbor Park and MacArthur Center projects. He credits coalitions of business and civic leaders for his council success.
He also follows a decade-long tradition of selecting mayors from the city's more affluent west side.
Still, Fraim said his collars have been more blue than white.
``I really come from the middle side of town, the son of a widow who raised five young children mostly on the paycheck of a Norfolk school-crossing guard,'' Fraim said.
And as he recognized his mother before the council and an audience of several dozen, the new mayor held back tears. ILLUSTRATION: MAYOR
Paul D. Fraim, after serving for eight years as a city councilman,
was appointed mayor of Norfolk on Friday night.
VICE MAYOR
Councilman Paul L. Riddick was unanimously appointed vice mayor in
Fraim's first order of business.
MARTIN SMITH-RODDEN/Staff
Herbert M. Collins was sworn in as a councilman on Friday.
KEYWORDS: MAYOR VICE MAYOR NORFOLK CITY COUNCIL by CNB