Black Wealth Magazine

The best solution for Mayor Holley

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — Go anywhere in this historic town and you’ll find someone with an opinion about Mayor James W. Holley III.

Many appreciate everything he’s done for the city and want him to complete his term. Others respect and tolerate him, though they think he’s held the position too long. And yet another faction of activist residents have banded together to force a recall election for the proud mayor. If successful, it would be the second time he has been recalled from the office.

I’ve had a close view of Portsmouth over the past decade and a half. Back in the mid 90s, I covered the city for the local newspaper, The Virginian-Pilot. Entering the job, my colleagues told me several things about the city; two of which rang particularly true: The city suffered from an inferiority complex when compared to its brethren in Hampton Roads; and there was no bigger cheerleader for the city than Mayor James W. Holley III.

At the time, Holley had recently returned to the mayor’s office, having been recalled from the position in 1987. Despite being removed from office, Holley had never quite given up the title during his years in exile and was proud to formally resume his position. In my many interviews with His Honor, one thing was readily apparent: He suffered from no lack of confidence in himself and in the city of Portsmouth. That confidence was well earned given Holley’s years of dedication to the city, starting with his efforts to desegregate public places during the Civil Rights era. For this, Holley achieved iconic status, a title he wore proudly. He was a star in a city that didn’t have much to cheer about in the mid 1990s, as the economy had robbed the city of most of its tax base. Holley believed in Portsmouth. He cheered it on when it was down and out. I recall, then, that there was no place in Portsmouth for a woman to go buy a pair of pantyhose, a problem lamented by many women. All the shopping had gone to the Chesapeake Square Mall area, leaving Portsmouth’s MidCity and Tower Mall areas blighted ghost towns. There were few places to have lunch, much less dinner. Crime was rampant. Jobs were scarce outside of the Navy’s shipyard and medical center. And those who worked in Portsmouth rushed to get out of the city at day’s end.

No one, it seemed, wanted to be associated with Portsmouth — a place some folks called “The Armpit of Hampton Roads.”

But Mayor Holley cheered on, unabashed. I equate him to a loyal sports fan, like those who root for the Chicago Cubs, the Cleveland Browns and the Washington Wizards. Despite years of their team’s ineptitude, those steadfast fans keep the faith. And so has Holley when it comes to Portsmouth. And, now, it looks as if Portsmouth is poised to become a winner.

I look at what has happened over the last 15 years and marvel at how far Portsmouth has come. Retail is slowly coming back thanks to development at Victory Crossing (the former Tower Mall area) and around MidCity.  People have moved back downtown, taking up residence in apartments and lofts along High Street. Portsmouth has a night life. It has a pulse. Through this transformation, Holley has continued to cheer for his city, even as age and Father Time has robbed him of some of his energy and awareness. At 83, Holley lacks the mental sharpness he once had and is prone to ramble on incoherently at times. But he still looks good in his clothes and remains the best dressed mayor in the region, bar none. He works the crowds at ribbon cuttings and mingles among the townsfolk. But, we all know, looking the part is only a small part of the job. Portsmouth needs and deserves a mayor who is up to the task, even if it is just a ceremonial position in the city’s council/manager form of government.

Holley’s outsized personality and ego are two of his greatest gifts and perhaps his weaknesses. His unreasonable demands of his secretaries have been well documented. His off the cuff statements in public and at council meetings have drawn ire. There are many who believe it is time for Holley to go and they want him removed, again. A recall election is scheduled for July 13. The mayor refuses to step aside. Having returned once from forced exile, I can understand that. But the time might have come for him to vacate the formal position.

And in my words, there is a recommended solution that I think Holley has earned. Issue a proclamation appointing him Mayor Emeritus and Head Cheerleader, a ceremonial post. Let him attend the ribbon cuttings, the celebrations, the parades. Don’t remove him from the spotlight that he so much enjoys. Faults and all, Mayor Holley has never turned his back on his hometown. Now it is time for his hometown to give him a dignified retirement. I believe he has earned it.

James W. Holley III, mayor of Portsmouth