Sessoms speech flap smells of retribution
Front Page on the Virginian-Pilot is where the headline screamed “Virginia Beach pays firm $9,000 for mayor’s speech.”
10 paragraphs later, the newspaper added this tidbit:
“The Beach has used consultants before to help with the State of the City presentation, Hancock said. Last year, Otto was paid $8,210 to work on it.”
Funny how that makes this year’s speechwork front page news.
But to me this seems like more sour grapes, both from our lady of perpetual re-election and from the church of the painful losses.
“the Beach’s in-house writer, Drew Lankford, had to work on other projects, Hancock said.”
Virginia Beach’s Media and Communications Group has 10 employees, and Lankford is one of them. Where practically every staff member has 4 or 5 assignments, Lankford has one – “Mayor’s Office.”
I’m not buying the “had to work on other projects” deal for a second. His sole responsibility is the Mayor’s office, and the Mayor State of the City one of the biggest, if not the biggest, speeches of the year, and he’s too busy to work on it?
Lankford was hired during Meyera Oberndorf’s tenure, having previously worked for noted Meyera supporter Joel Rubin. Will Sessoms beats Meyera, and 5 speeches in less than 3 months are outsourced to a private firm, and it’s a coincidence? C’mon.
Virginia Beach Taxpayer Alliance chief John Moss was quick to be quoted in the story. I don’t understand why the newspaper couldn’t find Scott Taylor for a quote so everyone who lost to Sessoms could have their fingerprints on this story.
The funny part is that Moss advocates big government in his quote, showing that his position may be less about ideology and more about Sessoms.
“Spending money on a speech, when you have staff that can do the work, sends the wrong message, said John Moss, chairman of the Virginia Beach Taxpayer Alliance.”
Is Moss actually saying he favors government staff over the private sector?
Maybe Moss and the VBTA should push for more outsourcing to private professionals and less salary/benefits/retirement government employees. After all, the Pilot reports Lankford’s salary is $60,475.
That would be consistent, at least.
Right now, it just looks like the circles around Sessoms’ defeated opponents are still campaigning.
Category: Government
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The Chamber of Commerce sponsors the state of the city speech and covers all expenses. Not taxpayers. How do I know? My dad is on the board.
Apparently they don’t cover the writing of the speech.
I have a different take on this.
To be open and honest, let me state that I was an active part of John Moss’s campaign for mayor. I regard Sessoms as being liberal on fiscal issues. I also did not like his endorsement of Mark Warner nor the pro-Obama literature his staff distributed on election day. I preface by saying, I’m not a Sessom fan. He does however, have an entire term to show me that he has what it takes.
First let me talk about the remarks by John Moss:
John was in no way being inconsistent. Brian, you took his comments slightly out of context. I don’t think that Moss would disagree with you on the idea of paying for an outside speech writer if Sessoms was willing to cut staff. The idea of outsourcing AND maintaining a staff for the same task just seems like a waste of limited resources at a time when you are “crying poverty”.
If the Pilot wants to give John Moss free press, I would encourage him to take it.
At worst, this was mistake or a fumbling due to having a possibly biased Oberndorf hire on hand. I can understand if Sessoms wanted somebody else. Like you Brian, I don’t see this as a real story.
Brian, I do agree that something is up. There is an agenda. It isn’t sour grapes though. This is far less emotional than that.
I think that Sessoms is being potentially Jim Gilmore’d. Although a waste and poorly thought out, this Speech Gate is comparitively small potatoes but, it made for a lot of press. Eventhough, Sessoms and Oberndorf agreed on budget directions FAR to closely for my tastes, it looks like somebody might be intent to bleed Sessoms with a million paper cuts and over time bury him in the eyes of the public.
The VBTA should feel free to take advantage of any free press given but, they should not construe this as any “shared” cause or alliance. Team Oberndorf holds no affection for Moss or the VBTA. Had Republican John Moss been elected mayor, somebody would have used a nearly identical tactic on him.
“if Sessoms was willing to cut staff.”
Britt, it’s not Sessoms’ staff to cut. The Mayor can’t hire or fire anyone in the city. The City Council only hires the City Manager, Attorney, Clerk, Auditor, and Assessor.
Ok. However, the city manager etc. is supposed to be subordinate to council.
If the mayor tells Jim Spore, “Hey, he wrote speeches for Meyera and I need rock solid effort. This guy is potentially biased. Give me somebody else” then Spore or somebody responsible for that type of thing should move the current writer to another post or let him or someone less capable go. The city needs cuts anyway right? Why not cut the ineffective? At that point, your arguement for outside help is held up as correct.
The relationship between council and management has been unhealthy for a long time. Spore has practically run the city and been rubber stamped by council.
The fact that Sessoms can not directly fire/hire does not absolve him. However, given past history, a less than perfect execution is understandable. If Sessoms does indeed prefer a stronger role for mayor and council, then this would be a good start to focus on.