THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, January 30, 1996 TAG: 9601300283
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ALEX MARSHALL, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Short : 50 lines
Councilman Mason C. Andrews, former mayor and longtime city leader, announced Monday he will seek re-election this spring.
Andrews, 76, is a 22-year veteran of the council. He has championed downtown development and advocated a traditional role, in which the council sets policy and does not interfere with city administration.
Because of his age and length of service, there had been speculation that Andrews would retire. Newer council members have at times clashed with Andrews over the direction of the city and best form of council management.
Andrews was out of town Monday. But in a prepared statement, he said he was running for re-election because he believed his experience would anchor the city during a time of change.
The council switched to a ward system in 1992, after it lost a lawsuit which charged that the old, at-large system diluted minority representation.
The city now has seven wards. Two of them are the so-called ``superwards,'' each covering half the city. It is the superwards that will be filled on Election Day, May 7.
Andrews is the second candidate to announce for the Norfolk council. Daun Sessoms Hester, an assistant principal at Rosemont Middle School and a past council candidate, Saturday said shewas running for the seat now held by the Rev. Joseph N. Green, who has said he probably will retire from the council this year.
Hester ran in 1992 and 1994 in crowded fields for the Ward 4 seat, losing both times to Paul R. Riddick. She emphasized several issues in her previous campaigns, principally crime, education, economic development and housing.
Andrews served as mayor from 1992 to 1994. He was first elected to the council in 1974.
Besides his work in government, he led the development of the Eastern Virginia Medical School, and was chairman of its Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. ILLUSTRATION: In his 22 years on the council, Mason C. Andrews has advocated a
traditional approach: The council sets policy, the administration
carries it out. At times, newer council members have clashed with
him over his views.
KEYWORDS: NORFOLK CITY COUNCIL ELECTION CANDIDATE by CNB