Here’s who is running for Virginia Beach mayor

It’s been less than two years since Bobby Dyer became mayor of Virginia Beach.

He entered the role after Will Sessoms resigned.

Voters will return to the ballot box on Nov. 3 to decide whether Dyer should be re-elected to his first four-year term as mayor.

The Virginian-Pilot asked the three candidates running for mayor about their background, their priorities and views on important issues facing our city and nation.

Bobby Dyer*

Age: 70

Occupation: Physical therapist

Previous public office: Mayor of Virginia Beach, 2018-present; City Councilman for Centerville District, 2004-2018

Education: Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership, Regent University; Master’s of Public Administration/Health Care, Fairleigh Dickinson University; Bachelor’s of Science in Physical Therapy, Saint Louis University

What would be your top priority if elected and how will you implement it?

My top priority would be to continue positive leadership that prioritizes the safety of our citizens and businesses and continues moving Virginia Beach forward. Virginia Beach is among the best managed cities and the safest cities our size. I also was named one of the top Mayors in America. That is a credit to you, the people of Virginia Beach, who keep us the greatest city anywhere. Now is not the time for the untested. You and I have weathered some of Virginia Beach’s most difficult days together. Moving forward, we have bright days ahead.

What should the council do going forward to assist people and businesses in need during the pandemic? Please explain.

We approved millions of dollars in small business relief, cut taxes for residents in restaurants, extended tax deadlines penalty-free and interest-free and I got our beaches opened faster than anywhere in the state. CARES act funding to Virginia Beach totals nearly $40 million, but needs to be allocated by the end of the year. Council will focus on making sure funds are available should there be a “second wave” at the end of the year to make sure we keep businesses open and people employed.

Do you believe there are racial inequities in our society? What policies and police reforms would you advocate for, if any?

That’s why my campaign for Mayor in 2018 was focused on creating a level playing field and making sure everyone can do business in Virginia Beach. Economic opportunity is the goal of our city and I was proud to lead the effort to hire Virginia Beach’s first black city manager. Our police department is the best-trained in the nation, with twice the state minimum training and seven times the state-required field training. They are gold-certified. And although improvement is the goal of every fine organization, we can be proud of our police who sacrifice to keep us safe.

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Jody Wagner

Age: 65

Occupation: President of Jody’s Popcorn

Previous public office: No elected positions. Virginia Secretary of Finance, 2006 to 2008; Virginia State Treasurer, 2002 to 2006

Education: J.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Law; Bachelor’s in Economics, Northwestern University

What would be your top priority if elected and how will you implement it?

We will likely still be in the throes of the pandemic, so I will first focus on assisting struggling businesses and families (see Question 2). As we emerge from the recession, the City must help existing businesses expand and attract diverse businesses that will provide opportunity for those who became unemployed during COVID and for our children. Exciting opportunities exist to leverage new high-speed internet and offshore wind energy. Virginia Beach is known as a hard place to do business. Bureaucracy slows progress down. We must change this so Virginia Beach is the best and easiest place to do business.

What should the council do going forward to assist people and businesses in need during the pandemic? Please explain.

Businesses and families are being hit hard. Restaurants and stores are closing. Many families are struggling to afford groceries and find and afford child care. Children’s education has been interrupted. We must improve access to, and speed of, testing results, supplemental childcare and nutrition support. For businesses, we must provide better guidance and service. Grants and low-interest loans are helpful, but only if the money reaches the recipient. We need programs for tax deferrals and exemptions. We must also partner with charities to provide further access to aid.

Do you believe there are racial inequities in our society? What policies and police reforms would you advocate for, if any?

There are historically-created racial inequities. I will support policies that seek to adjust those inequities and provide opportunity and equity in all areas of government — from procurement to education. In Virginia Beach, we have well-trained police and we are one of the safest cities in the country. However, police are tasked with handling societal issues, such as citizens struggling with mental health problems and homelessness. I will work to refocus public expectations of the VBPD, recruit a more diverse police force, expand community policing and support fair pay and salary increases that will help recruit and retain quality officers.

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Richard “R.K.” Kowalewitch

Age: 60

Occupation: Self-employed in construction

Previous public office: None

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Education: Two years of college

What would be your top priority if elected and how will you implement it?

Enforce laws and maintain order fairly for everyone. To have the enforcement of laws we need to have our police department fully funded and fully staffed. The current budget allows for the hiring of an additional 77 police officers. We need to promote our police department so perhaps trained officers from other cities would apply to work here. We need to continue to fix pay compression. There needs to be open lines of communication between City Council, the police chief’s office, the HR department and the police associations to come up with solutions to solve the unrest in our communities.

What should the council do going forward to assist people and businesses in need during the pandemic? Please explain.

We first need to see what effect COVID-19 will have on the budget before we can make any decisions. The city does not need to be involved in anymore public-private partnerships that compete with the private sector. The city needs to stay lean so that we can protect current privately-funded businesses. We can do this through Economic Development with grants and low interest loans available to small businesses. The full effect of COVID-19 on businesses will probably not be known until the end of 2021. We need to be prepared.

Do you believe there are racial inequities in our society? What policies and police reforms would you advocate for, if any?

There have always been racial inequities in society. I believe we still have work to do, but I do not believe it is as bad as people are making it out to be. Unfortunately, destructive, violent protesters are not helping, but hurting the cause. Everyone has a right to protest peacefully, guaranteed by the Constitution. To revamp the current Investigation Review Panel — Citizens Review Committee — to include total transparency by having a transcript made of the hearing available for the public and having the accused and accuser both present and allow for questioning by the panel during the hearing.