THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, May 4, 1996 TAG: 9605040009
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 41 lines
A large segment of Norfolk's population probably gave a sigh of relief when they found that a former chief of the Norfolk Police Department was running for City Council. Now, if only ``the sigh of relief'' will get the people to the polls to vote for their candidate. Maybe a forgotten portion of our citizens can have representation on our City Council.
Norfolk's City Council, as a whole, constitutes a dedicated and hard-working entity, but a deep feeling exists among a large group of our people that they have no voice in our city's taxes and expenditures. Our citizens become disheartened to keep going to the polls to vote while the same people show up on the council year after year. It's true, that's the democratic way, but a lack of qualified candidates also assures us of a status quo mentality, or ``What's the use of voting? It does no good.''
``Chief'' Charlie Grant will give the citizens of Norfolk a choice for City Council. Grant was born in Norfolk, graduated from Maury High in 1938, joined the Norfolk Police Department in 1946 after serving in the military, and was chief of police from 1976 until 1985. He has remained active in many church and civic organizations since his retirement.
Grant has his pension and a full life, but he feels that there is a need for our city that is not being satisfied by all members of the City Council. As a lifelong citizen of Norfolk and a man who has dedicated his lifetime to protection and understanding of all the people in all the wards of Norfolk, he is the choice to represent Superward 6 on the council.
One thing is for sure: ``Chief'' Grant is not running for the honor or the money. Though there is honor in serving Norfolk's citizens, a lot of headaches and time is spent in the position.
ROBERT F. POWERS
Norfolk, April 20, 1996 by CNB