Sessoms’ campaign fund grows
Many Oberndorf backers now support him

BY PHILIP NEWSWANGER AND MARY WORRELL

INSIDE BUSINESS - July 23, 2007

Former Virginia Beach Vice Mayor Will Sessoms has a flock of admirers. And they want a change in leadership in Virginia Beach, if evidenced by the amount of money they have donated to Sessoms’ campaign for mayor so far this year.

Since January, Sessoms, who served on City Council from 1988 to 2002, has raised $221,000, even though the election isn’t until Nov. 4, 2008.

The roster of donors reads like a who’s who of community and business leaders and well-known firms, from real estate to construction and hotel management.

Sessoms, who is the president of TowneBank’s Virginia Beach division, filed papers with the Virginia Beach Office of Elections earlier this month outlining the names of donors and their contributions. Even the city’s treasurer, John Atkinson, donated $1,000.

Sessoms said his goal is to raise at least $500,000. But he said that number could change as the race progresses.

He wants to raise enough money so that he can deliver a clear message to voters in the midst of presidential elections.

“You have to get your message out there,” Sessoms said. “There’s going to be a lot of noise.”

Sessoms said he is trying to prepare for a good race.

“Who knows what the issues will be a year from now?” he said. “What I’m hearing is that people are looking for leadership and people are looking for change.”

“People are putting their money where their mouth is,” Sessoms said. “I’m truly humbled by it.”

“That makes sense,” said Mayor Meyera Oberndorf when told that Sessoms had raised $221,000, largely from the business community. “He’s been in the business community – with BB&T and now TowneBank – and, obviously, he would know these people socially.”

“I have to be very candid with you,” Oberndorf said. “I am not a very strong fund-raiser.” She said also that the election is more than a year away and that she would not begin to raise funds for her campaign because it would conflict with her job as mayor.

Don Weeks, who is also running for mayor, will conduct a more grassroots campaign, according to David Rourk, Weeks’ campaign manager and founder of Rourk Public Relations. Weeks, a home builder, served on City Council from 1998 to 2000.

“I hope the election comes down to who has the best ideas to lead Virginia Beach in the future,” Rourk said. “But if it comes down to money, our chances get slimmer.”

Rourk said Weeks’ campaign will file documents showing donations a year from the election.

Some supporters of Oberndorf’s campaign during the 2004 mayoral election have switched sides and are pouring money into Sessoms’ campaign.

Jean Siebert, owner of Siebert Realty, contributed $1,000 to the mayor’s campaign in 2004. Yet she contributed $10,000 to Sessoms’ current campaign.

Doug Ellis, president of Ellis-Gibson Development, gave Oberndorf $1,000 during the last campaign cycle. But he gave $5,000 to Sessoms.

Bob Fort, media relations director of Norfolk Southern Corp., gave $500 to the mayor in 2004, but $5,000 to Sessoms.

“He’s a good candidate,” said Fort, who has known Sessoms for 15 years. “I think he’s competent. I think he’s got an open mind on all critical issues in Virginia Beach.”

Michael Barrett, CEO of Runnymede Corporation, touts Sessoms’ leadership qualities when he served on City Council.

“We think he’s a very talented leader,” Barrett said. “I think he’s the kind of person we need for the future.”

Harvey Lindsay Jr., chairman of Harvey Lindsay Commercial Real Estate, backs Sessoms, saying he has the same characteristics as his father-in-law, former Norfolk Mayor Roy Martin.

“He’s honest, he’s good and he will get the job done,” Lindsay said.

Mike McCabe, president and CEO of Harvey Lindsay Commercial Real Estate, praised Sessoms’ leadership qualities and said he was progressive.

“While Mayor Oberndorf has done a good job, we need a new set of eyes,” McCabe said. “He’s certainly business-oriented, partly because he’s the president of TowneBank.”

McCabe believes Sessoms could boost economic development in the city, especially at the Oceanfront.