The Virginian-Pilot exploded today over the issue of having a referendum on bringing the Norfolk light rail line to Virginia Beach. Comments a plenty!
Here’s the truth. Any referendum held after this year would be a fait accompli. Norfolk’s light rail line is scheduled to open in mid-2011. Believe me, if Norfolk’s startup is a miserable failure that no one likes and no one rides, it’s not extending into Virginia Beach with or without a referendum.
And believe me, if Norfolk’s light rail is a hit, with riders galore and a public embrace, people in Virginia Beach will want it here and soon.
Either way, a 2011 referendum idea, sound in principle, is useless in practice.
How about this year? Wally Erb only came 23,917 signatures short of the 25,000 needed to put the referendum on this year’s ballot. The former candidate for State Senate, Clerk of Court, City Council, and failed write-in for Soil and Water Conservation Director and current City Council candidate again worked for over 9 months to get just over a thousand signatures.
Not exactly an outpouring of thirst for a referendum. Portsmouth activists got nearly 9,000 signatures in a fraction of the time to recall now-former Mayor Holley.
Besides, without knowing the cost, the benefit, the funding and the mitigation needed, a referendum now would’ve been a factless gut check.
The earliest now will have to be 2011.
There was a light rail referendum held in 1999, and let’s remember why. Sheriff Frank Drew (D) raised over a half-million dollars to challenge a guy named Del. Bob McDonnell (R). Del. Leo Wardrup (R) faced one of his better funded challengers in Sam Meekins (D) of Central Business District fame. And Del. Glenn Croshaw (D) got the shock of his life when he was defeated by Terrie Suit (R).
And the GOP loved having that conservative-voter-attracting referendum on the ballot so much, they gave the leaders of the effort a Republican award at the January 2000 Republican Send-Off dinner.
I’m not sensing those dynamics at play yet for 2011 . Bottom line – a referendum wouldn’t determine anything more valuable than watching Norfolk’s light rail’s success or failure would.
