THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 28, 1996 TAG: 9604300503
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SUSIE STOUGHTON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FRANKLIN LENGTH: Long : 225 lines
CHANGE IS coming in city politics. The question is how much.
Voters in May will select a new mayor and a new councilman in races where the incumbents are not seeking re-election. But the six-member council could have two other newcomers if an incumbent councilman loses a contested race and if another councilman wins the mayor's race.
In the latter case, the council would name his replacement to complete the unexpired term.
Two candidates are unopposed: newcomer Joseph J. Scislowicz, a counselor for Western Tidewater Mental Health, in precinct No. 1; and incumbent Robert E. Harrell, a retired educator, in precinct No. 4.
The only contested races are for the mayor's post and the council seat in precinct No. 2.
Running for mayor are newcomer James P. Councill III and E. Kent Pope, who has been on City Council two years.
Both candidates seek to heal the racial tensions that have recently divided the community, particularly since the firing last fall of acting City Manager Dale R. Cooke.
Cooke, who is black, has filed a $15 million lawsuit, claiming discrimination was behind her termination. City officials only said they had ``lost confidence'' in her.
Named in the suit are seven whites - the mayor; three council members, including W. Norwood Boyd, who is running for re-election; and three citizens, including Councill.
Councill, 51, grew up in Hunterdale, an area annexed by the city in January. This is his first opportunity to run for city office.
``I want to make a difference,'' he said at a meeting of the Downtown Business Association in late March.
Councill, a community volunteer, is a member of the State Bar Association's ethics committee and has been on the Southampton County board of Social Services. His father, J. Paul Councill Jr., has served in the House of Delegates since 1974.
When he decided in January to run, Councill had hoped to be unopposed to allow all segments of the city to unite.
``I'm disappointed not to have the opportunity to build a consensus,'' he said.
Still, he believes he can bring the community together, noting his experience as a race relations facilitator in the Air Force.
``I'm only going to make one promise: I'll be honest and I'll be fair,'' said Councill, who was minister of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints for eight years.
The government cannot cure of all the city's ills, he said.
``I think more problems are solved at the kitchen table than at city hall,' he said.
Councill believes the city's sewer and water improvements must be done in stages.
``We must get the critical ones done first,'' he said. ``We must make sure we can pay our bills before we incur them.''
Education is another of his concerns.
``I'm interested in making our schools top-notch,'' he said.
Discipline is necessary to improve the quality of education, he said. By improving education, qualified workers will be available to enter the work force, he said. ``If that happens, the economy grows, our tax base grows.''
Another concern is the drug problem ``on both sides of town,'' he said. ``The survival of our town, the safety of our children and older people depend on running the drug traffic out of town.''
Pope, 38, grew up in Franklin. He entered politics two years ago, when he was elected to the council.
He is running for the mayor's post because of his commitment to the city.
``I want to continue my goal to improve Franklin,'' he said.
He feels he can unite the city because he is concerned about all the citizens.
``I have an ear for listening,'' he said. ``One thing I think the people deserve is a voice.''
The council has to look at the needs of the whole city, Pope said.
``Raising taxes hurts the poor persons more than the well-to-do persons, but it still affects everybody,'' he said.
Communication is vital, he said.
``We have got to talk,'' he said. ``If people don't come to the table and discuss concerns, we're not getting anywhere.''
Pope, past president of the NAACP, is active in several community organizations.
He believes education should be a top priority of the city.
The city has a good program for college-bound students but needs stronger vocational training and programs for students who need special assistance, he said.
``The bottom line is whether you're going to college or not, you have got to be productive citizens,'' he said. ``If not, the taxpayers are going to pay for it.''
Economic development is another important issue, he said.
``The only way to increase the revenue coming in to our city is to find another tax base or raise the taxes and fees,'' he said.
The city must attract tenants in the industrial park and promote retail businesses downtown.
``We've been investing in that park and hoping that investment pays off for the city,'' he said.
Good fiscal management is required, he said.
``I'm definitely concerned about the way we manage the city's tax dollars,'' he said.
Sewer improvements will be expensive, he said.
``It's very important that we spend our tax dollar monies in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible,'' he said.
Vacancies in the city should be filled with strong leaders - regardless of their race or sex, he said.
``The city is made up of different cultures, economic and social backgrounds and we've got to deal with that,'' he said.
Running for the council seat in precinct No. 2 are incumbent W. Norwood Boyd and challenger Billy D. Hawkins.
Boyd, a Richmond native, is running for a second four-year term.
``It takes about two years before you're competent, really, and understand what's going on,'' he said in a recent interview. ``It seems to me it would be a waste to quit now and not use that experience.''
The council will have at least new faces, he said, and ``some continuity would be helpful.''
He wants to continue efforts at regional cooperation. He is chairman of the Water Resources Commission, a cooperative effort with Isle of Wight County and Union Camp Corp. to identify sources other than Lake Gaston, which could be financially prohibitive.
``There are some opportunities for regional development that need to be explored,'' he said.
The city, though small, is fortunate to have income sources to keep the burden on the taxpayers low.
``We are able to keep the tax rate at a level other communities couldn't,'' he said.
The city must address water and sewer needs.
``We have to figure out how to do that without raising taxes,'' he said. ``The job of government is to try to do as much as we can with `scarce resources.' ''
He praised City Manager Rowland L. ``Bucky'' Taylor, who has introduced an improved financial reporting system and is trying to keep the council informed.
Communication is important to dispel the racial tension, Boyd said.
``I would like to find some responsible black leaders who are willing to sit down and talk about the problems that are facing us,'' he said, ``as a city and not on a racial basis. I believe that what we're hearing now is a very vocal minority.''
Hawkins, a Franklin native, is making his first try at elected office.
He believes his financial background would be helpful on council.
He had eyed city politics for a long time, Hawkins said in a recent interview. Two years ago, when Boyd ran for mayor, Hawkins considered placing his name into consideration for his replacement, if he won. Boyd, however, lost the election and kept his council seat.
Hawkins said he was approached by others to run this year.
``I initially declined because I didn't want to get into any negative stuff,'' he said. ``Later, I decided I wanted to be part of solving the problems of the community.''
The city's needs to decide how to manage its debt while providing services, he said.
``I'm against the debt, but we have to address needs,'' he said. ``Whoever wins will inherit a debt load that is going to get worse before it gets better.''
The city's sewer and drainage needs must be budgeted, he said.
``I equate that to maintaining a personal budget,'' he said.
The city should go beyond state standards for sewer infrastructure improvements, he said.
``Our stuff ought to be in good shape,'' he said.
A quality school system is also important to prepare children for the future. ``We don't get those returns right away,'' he said.
The key to improving education is parental involvement, he said.
The recent racial tension has given the city a bad name, which is undeserved, he said.
``I work with minorities and I don't sense a pervasive problem,'' he said. ``It's sad that Franklin, as a community, gets labeled.''
Communication is essential, he said. ``The first key to getting any problem solved is by communicating and talking to each other.''
Hawkins is on the Redevelopment and Housing Authority and the United Way boards and is active in other community affairs.
The different parts of the city can work together, he believes.
``I call it consensus building,'' he said. ``We should tell each other what we think, then stand behind that and protect our integrity.'' ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
WHERE TO VOTE
May 7 is election day. The polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7
p.m.
Here's where to vote in Franklin:
(Registrar: Sandy Holloman - 562-8545)
PRECINCT NO. 1
Franklin High School gymnasium, 310 Crescent Drive
PRECINCT NO. 2
Back, General Vaughan Armory, Campbell Avenue
PRECINCT NO. 3
Front, General Vaughan Armory, Armory Drive
PRECINCT NO. 4
Sportsman Association Inc. Club, 1431 South St.
PRECINCT NO. 5
Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, 683 Oak St.
PRECINCT NO. 6
Willie Camp Younts Public Safety Building, 100 S. Main St.
Graphics
Photos
E. KENT POPE
Age: 38
Education: Graduate, Franklin High School; attended Paul D. Camp
and Tidewater Community colleges
Employment: Environmental specialist, Military Sealift Command at
Norfolk Naval Base
Personal: Married; three children
JAMES P. COUNCILL III
Age: 51
Education: Graduate, Franklin High School; bachelor's degree,
Hampden-Sydney College
Employment: President, Councill & Associates
Personal: Married; five children
W. NORWOOD BOYD II
Age: 52
Education: Graduate, St. Christopher's School, Richmond;
bachelor's degree, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Employment: Vice president, Davenport & Company
Personal: Married; three children
BILLY D. HAWKINS Age: 39
Education: Graduate, Franklin High School; bachelor's degree, Old
Dominion University
Employment: Manager, Bronco Federal Credit Union
Personal: Married; two children
KEYWORDS: ELECTION FRANKLIN FRANKLIN CITY COUNCILMANIC RACE
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