Mayor Richard West has tarnished the name of our great city by instructing the city attorney to do discovery work for his stepbrother in Nahunta, Georgia. West acknowledged his wrongdoing, but blamed the city attorney for not advising him correctly. West then encouraged the firing of the attorney, but the attorney resigned and took a job in Charlottesville in June 2023. As mayor, he used city staff time and our money to pay for his personal business. Ethically, that is wrong.

At recent City Council meetings, West and Council member Amanda Newins have led an effort to get Councilman Don Carey to resign his council seat to run for mayor. Virginia Senate Bill 1157, passed in 2021, clearly states that “the election of its mayor, governing body, or school board at a May election shall, by ordinance, provide for the transition of such elections to the November general election date.” It further states that no term of members of council or school board shall be shortened that expires as of June 30, and shall continue in office until their successors have been elected at the November general election.

The problem is that the City Council and city attorney were negligent in changing the city charter to comply with state law. Instead, they choose to smear Carey’s reputation as a lawbreaker to hide their own incompetence. When that did not work, West and his acolytes filed suit on Aug. 28 in Circuit Court to remove his candidacy from the Nov. 5, election.

Carey is a bastion of honesty, and integrity and has a strong policy on transparency and accountability. Further, he is a family man, youth mentor through his REECH Foundation and a man of faith. He will not smear the good name of our beloved city, nor be a puppet for retired Congressman Randy Forbes. You may remember the joint letter in the previous election circulated by Rick West and Randy Forbes that smeared Councilwoman Ella Ward and council candidate Susan Vitale for failure to vote on one of their issues.

West and his acolytes on the council opposed citizens’ request to vote on changing the election system in Chesapeake from an at-large system to a single-member (ward) voting system. Chesapeake is the only large city in the commonwealth holding on to the at-large system, which by its very nature discriminates against minority voters. He is not concerned about equality in representation, but wants power and control over what happens in the city and affects our daily lives. Real estate and transportation industries have contributed $310,865 this year to his campaign. What is that about? I think you know.

On the other hand, he has not provided any leadership in providing a convocation and performing arts complex, affordable housing, nor any facility to graduate high school seniors or to accommodate our high school swimming teams.

Citizens of Chesapeake, it is time to vote for change and progress. We need new leadership if our city is to achieve progress and move Chesapeake to a better place to live, work, play, farm and serve all the people.

George F. Reed, Ph.D., is a retired educator, a U.S. Air Force veteran and president of G. and L. Associates Consulting in Chesapeake. He serves as secretary of the Chesapeake Juneteenth Foundation and is a board member of several nonprofit organizations.

The Southeastern Tidewater Opportunity Project of Hampton Roads, a regional community action program, has served low-income citizens for more than 47 years. STOP has provided services that member cities and counties could not or would not provide. Grants and other funding from STOP have substantial economic effects in South Hampton Roads, as we have helped allievate poverty.

STOP’s Second Chances Program operated very successfully from April 1999 to June 2012.

During that time, the program served more than 2,200 clients. More than half were paid more than minimum wage. The program also provided housing for ex-offenders and served 157 children of ex-offenders. As recently as this past January, Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim declared that the Second Chances Program was a national model.

When representatives of STOP met with Norfolk City Manager Marcus Jones in January, Jones indicated that he intended to integrate the program into the 2013 city budget to save the city money. We embraced the change.

Under the terms of its contract with the city, STOP was the “fiscal agent” for the Second Chances Program. STOP had no responsibility for visiting jail inmates, so the editorial’s assertion that “STOP’s abysmal record in the jail presents another chapter in endless bungling” is misleading. No one from the city indicated any dissatisfaction with STOP’s administration of the program.

STOP’s Board of Directors and staff members have worked hard during the past two years to correct past mistakes. With funds raised through donations and activities, STOP repaid the Department of Housing and Community Development all the bonus money issued to staff members in 2009.

We have “cleaned house” and reorganized to promote clearer lines of communication while increasing productivity and efficiency with less money. We have researched best practices and, as a result, we have implemented new policies to ensure greater accountability and transparency throughout our organization. Staff members are receiving additional necessary training.

Despite an adverse audit in 2010, STOP’s 2011 audit reflected no material findings. As we continue to move forward, STOP will continue to evaluate every program and position for its usefulness and cost-effectiveness.

While we managed our fiscal crisis, we continued to provide services to the families and individuals who need us. All of our remaining funding sources, including community partners, bankers and donors, have stood with us because they have watched us work toward our transformation.

I am asking for a second chance for STOP. We look forward to collaborations with other agencies, organizations and businesses, as well as local governments throughout South Hampton Roads.

George F. Reed is chairman of the board of directors of the Southeastern Tidewater Opportunity Project.