State Sen. Kenny Alexander announces run for Norfolk mayor

NORFOLK

For more than two decades, the city of Norfolk has known only one mayor.

First by appointment and later by election, Paul Fraim held onto this seat with an iron grip. He had opponents over the years, but none really stood a chance.

That’s why Norfolk’s upcoming mayoral election isn’t just a mayoral election: It’s the first time in a long time that the city can redefine itself with a new leader.

“This is going to be the mayor’s race that Norfolk has never seen,” said Jesse Richman, associate professor of political science at Old Dominion University.

And it’s going to be a battle. With State Sen. Kenny Alexander’s decision Monday to run for the office, three strong contenders are set to face off in the May election.

There’s the state senator, the sheriff and the councilman. And each one has political might that can’t be overlooked.

“Each one of them has their own strengths and weaknesses, and any one of them could be mayor,” said Vivian Paige, an observer of local politics who writes opinion columns for The Pilot.

Alexander has deep political connections from here to Richmond, having served as a state senator and delegate. Sheriff Bob McCabe has been winning city elections as sheriff for roughly as long as Fraim has been mayor. And Councilman Andy Protogyrou has a strong command of city issues, having sat a few seats from Fraim since he entered office in 2010.

Alexander, a Democrat, won re-election unopposed to his District 5 seat in the Senate last week, though he had previously said he was considering entering the race for mayor.

When reached by phone Monday morning, he confirmed he would run.

“Alexander for Mayor!” he said. “Alexander for Mayor!”

The 49-year-old had said he wouldn’t run if Fraim sought re-election. Fraim’s decision in October to step aside opened the door for the senator, who grew up in Norfolk’s Berkley neighborhood and graduated from Lake Taylor High School.

“This is full circle for me,” he said. “I’m coming home.”

A funeral service operator, Alexander has served in the Senate since 2012. He served for a decade in the House of Delegates before that. He also previously served on Norfolk’s economic development authority and planning commission.

“Norfolk needs someone with the broad experience and skills that I bring to the table, the resources I can tap, the ability to effectively reach out to people at all levels – from neighborhoods, to boardrooms, to the upper levels of government – and to bring together people from diverse viewpoints,” Alexander said in a news release llater Monday morning.

Alexander said Protogyrou and McCabe are “very fine people” but said he is “the most qualified and most prepared person thus far to have announced to be mayor of this 400-year-old city.”

McCabe said Monday he welcomes Alexander, whom he considers a friend, to the race. The two have supported each other politically in the past, including doing a radio commercial together for McCabe’s 2013 election, the sheriff said.

“We’ve been friends and supporters for as long as I can remember,” McCabe said.

McCabe said he expects the candidates to campaign on the same issues, such as improving the school system and making the city safer. “It’s just going to be who the citizens feel they have more trust in to do the job,” he said.

Protogyrou also welcomed Alexander “to the debate.”

“He will certainly bring Richmond’s perspective to Norfolk,” Protogyrou said. “However, he has not developed the relationships on council, nor the understanding of the issues, as I have working here at home.”

Protogyrou has the endorsements of three other council members, including two of the council’s three black members, Vice Mayor Angelia Williams Graves and Mamie Johnson.

Though the ballot for the mayor’s race is filling up, Richman said, “I wouldn’t count on Alexander being the last.”

The appeal of an open mayor’s seat – and not having to oust an incumbent – could well bring others into the fray.

“We’re going to find out the who’s-who list of everybody in Norfolk politics who would like to be mayor,” Richman said.