[Posted Nov. 30, 2007]

Va. Beach Group Hopes To Put
Blacks In Office

Leonard E. Colvin
Chief Reporter
New Journal & Guide
 
       Virginia Beach has not elected an African American City Council member in ten years.  Although there are Blacks on the Virginia Beach Public School Board, there are no Black Constitutional Officers in the state’s largest populated city.
       But the days of this trend may be numbered if the African American Political Action Committee (AAPAC)  has its way.  The non-partisan group says it had a hand in the recent election of Democrats in the Sixth Senate District,  21st Senate and  83rd House Districts.
        According to AAPAC  member Carl Wright,  the African American vote may have made the difference in the successful races of all three candidates.
Joe Bouchard, who won the 83rd District seat, said that it was a new political day for all of the citizens—especially the people “who have been  neglected, the people who have been ignored for too long.”
       Wright said  he and AAPAC members translated his statement to mean “African Americans and other people are going to have a voice politically from now on.”
       Wright said when AAPAC did candidate interviews during the early part of the election cycle to determine whom they would support, Senator Nick Rerras and Delegate Chris Stolle, both Republicans who lost in their seats in last month’s election, did not show up.
       “So we knew who we were going to support in those races,” said Wright. “It is not about party, it is about  those who are interested in the issues which impact on Black people in this city. So if a Democrat wants to reach out to our community, he has our support, as well as a Republican if he does the same.

      There are not only African Americans who think that Blacks should have a stronger voice in Beach government, but a lot of Whites share that view, and they are lending their support to our effort.”
       African Americans make up about 30 percent of the population of Virginia Beach. Much of the Black population spreads out and there are few, if any, predominantly concentrated precincts dominated by Black voters.
       But Wright said AAPAC members and their allies mobilized Black voting strength in eight key precincts in the 21st and 83rd districts, stimulating Black  voter turnout.  Black voter strength is about  30 and 38 percent respective in each district.
       “That was enough to make a big difference especially with such a small number of voters overall turning out,” said Wright. 
       Wright said that several years ago Georgia Allen ran for the 83rd District and lost, despite solid support from the AAPAC. But the race was close enough to inspire the AAPAC to establish an operational machinery  to do better in races in the future.
       Wright said AAPAC has sided with both Republican and Democratic-leaning candidates who now sit on city council
        City council elections in the Beach will be held next year, and the AAPAC said their group has already begun to lay the ground work to make sure that an African American candidate will gain a seat on that panel.
       “One thing we learned is that we do not need multiple candidates who are Black seeking one seat,” Wright said. “We need candidates Republican or Democrat who are sensitive to the educational and economic issues which Black people—and all people—are concerned about. Finally we need a good steady turnout of Blacks from all over the city to show that we are a viable and concerned block of people who want to be heard.”

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