Election |

Where Portsmouth City Council candidates stand on education, crime and public perception

PORTSMOUTH — Education, the city’s public perception and crime were the top issues discussed at a forum Thursday for the candidates seeking election this fall to the City Council.

Several dozen residents attended the event, hosted by the Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Steering Committee at I.C. Norcom High School. Nine of the 11 total candidates fielded questions from the committee and audience. The election is Nov. 5.

Candidates are competing for three at-large council seats, meaning the three candidates with the most votes will win the election. They include incumbents De’Andre A. Barnes and Mark M. Whitaker, with challenges from William Smith “Bill” Dodson Jr., Sharon D. Anderson, Bruce G. LaLonde, Yolanda C. “Edmonds” Thomas, Davy Smith III, Malinda A. Johnson, Kathryn W. “Kitty” Bryant, Mia N. Phillips and Kelvin E. Turner.

Whitaker and Phillips did not attend.

Instead of all candidates answering each question, two candidates were selected per question. Most questions touched on education, including the relationship between the School Board and City Council, improving the city’s public perception and increasing public safety.

Education

Candidates agreed on investing fully into educators and students, and strengthening the city’s career and technical education resources. Bryant suggested building on some of what the school system already does, such as repurposing schools for more recreational use: for example, open gyms for summer programs.

Barnes reiterated several times that during his tenure as a council member, the school system’s budgets have been fully funded. He also referenced the summer jobs program for youth and the increased focus on career technical education.

The relationship between City Council and the School Board historically has been strained. Thomas, a School Board member since 2020, said the relationship between the two has improved during that time, mainly because of fully funding the superintendent’s budget requests. But she added that the liaisons for both groups should be better about educating themselves before joint meetings and keeping an open dialogue.

Public perception of city leadership

Smith and Anderson were asked how they would resolve conflict between council members. Anderson said “we need to be adults,” and that disputes among members should be hashed out behind closed doors. Smith said he was raised to be professional when agreeing to disagree.

Barnes said adults can’t be told how to act and that members have to fight for what they believe in.

“When they were getting along, things weren’t getting done,” Barnes said.

LaLonde spoke about the need to dig into the city’s money and be accountable for it. He said the city council should be discussing the budget after it’s passed.

“It’s not about the money,” LaLonde said. “It’s who’s doing the oversight of our money.”

Turner said the right people need to be on council and they need to collaborate. He added they need a long-term vision rather than short-term priorities that get passed with each new council.

“The issue is can we make sure the people of Portsmouth win?” Turner said. “And we will make the people of Portsmouth win when we understand that it’s much bigger than any one individual.”

Crime and public safety

Bryant emphasized the need for more women on council, noting they think about public safety differently, especially when it comes to children.

Dodson said crime can’t be reduced without a fully staffed police force and more collaboration with the commonwealth’s attorney’s office. He also suggested drawing on the resources already available, including the Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority, which he credited with working to help people get out of a “revolving door” of crime.

“We’ve got some bright shining lights,” Dodson said. “We just need to make them work.”

Some questions also touched on economic development. Barnes said education, crime and economics work in tandem. He defended his opposition to two economic development requests involving a storage facility and a car wash, noting that City Council should prioritize businesses that will bring living wages to the city, which can help with the root causes of crime.

Anderson emphasized the need to prop up the Innovation District spanning from the historic Olde Towne along the High Street corridor, as well as improve the appearance of underserved communities throughout the city.

In response to a question about $1,500 retirement supplements for the public safety workers, Johnson and Thomas said they’d push for some sort of increase to meet the rising cost of living.

Natalie Anderson, 757-732-1133, natalie.anderson@virginiamedia.com