Nine candidates will compete for three at-large seats on the Chesapeake City Council. The three top vote-getters will be elected.
Candidates are council incumbents Robert C. Ike Jr. and S. Z. “Debbie” Ritter, with challenges from Les Smith Jr., E. R. “Jeff” Jefferies Jr., Eric V. Wray II, Patricia Y. “Pat” King, Jeff B. Staples, Reagan A. Davis and Jennifer P. Naperala.
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Reagan Davis
Age: 35
Occupation/job title: Math Teacher, Chesapeake Public Schools; Adjunct Faculty, Tidewater Community College and Norfolk State University
Highest level of education: Master’s of Science in Education, Old Dominion University; Graduate certificate in Mathematics Education, Radford University
Website: ReaganDavis4Chesapeake.com
If elected, what would be your top priority for Chesapeake? Proactive infrastructure for our growing city.
If elected, how would you work to address the city’s ongoing challenge grappling with growth, particularly when it comes to adequate infrastructure and overcrowded schools? Driving through our city, I see areas where we have crumbling roads, overgrown ditches, roads without sidewalks, and roadway congestion. Everyone in our city should be able to walk and drive safely to their destination. Further, as a teacher, I notice some of our schools have leaking roofs, HVAC systems that cannot keep up with demand, and locations that utilize a plethora of portable classroom units to help meet their overcrowding needs. Every student and educator deserves a safe school. Using the current budget and partnering with Chesapeake Public Schools leadership and departments in the City of Chesapeake, reprioritizing the goals of the budget to invest in our city’s infrastructure can lead to safer roads, sidewalks, and buildings.
Where do you stand on the issue of recycling and how would you address it in Chesapeake? Would you act according to the will of the voters on the advisory referendum? Recycling is a pivotal way for us to ensure that materials are able to reenter the manufacturing process and our landfills take longer to reach maximum capacity. As a frequent user of the drop off locations, I am privileged to have a center close to my residence, and I know that not all residents have that opportunity. Curbside recycling should be available for everyone as part of our city’s budget. Based on the results of the referendum, I will support the will of the voters and act accordingly.
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Robert Ike
Age: 63
Occupation/job title: President, Sentry Security Systems
Highest level of education: Community College of the Air Force
Previous elected offices held (if any): Chesapeake City Council, 2012-Present
Military service (if any): U.S. Air Force Enlisted, 4 years
Website: robertike.com
If elected, what would be your top priority for Chesapeake? Economic development
If elected, how would you work to address the city’s ongoing challenge grappling with growth, particularly when it comes to adequate infrastructure and overcrowded schools? I will continue to prioritize transportation infrastructure projects in critical areas. Several of my initiatives have been very successful such as permissive left turn yellow flashing lights and “Bridge Open” warning lights to allow drivers time to take alternate routes and high visibility message boards warning of accidents or congestion ahead. School overcrowding sits squarely at the feet of the Chesapeake School Board. I have put tremendous pressure on the school Board over the last 10 years, trying to get them to adjust attendance zones to move children out of crowded schools (120+%) to schools that have very low (75-80%) attendance. The School Board commissioned a very expensive study several years ago which created a comprehensive plan to re-zone, which has not been implemented.
Where do you stand on the issue of recycling and how would you address it in Chesapeake? Would you act according to the will of the voters on the advisory referendum? I support recycling. However, the contractor we were using was charging Chesapeake almost twice what they were charging neighboring municipalities. When fee negotiations failed, I supported moving to a system of drop-off recycling centers and that has been very successful. Moving forward, I support a “single stream” recycling system that sorts all of the single brown bin contents through an automated process with a high capture rate on recyclables. Last year I drove to South Carolina and toured a very successful single stream plant and hope that (Southeastern Public Service Authority) can build a regional plant in the next 3 years. This would greatly reduce recyclable materials going into our landfill. If we return to curbside recycling with a fee, I’m concerned that some residents can’t afford it and the fee will go up.
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E.R. Jeff Jefferies
Age: 50
Occupation/job title: Police Captain, Chesapeake Police Department
Highest level of education: Some college, Old Dominion University
Website: www.jefferiesforcouncil.com
If elected, what would be your top priority for Chesapeake? Maintaining low taxes, public safety and the best schools in Hampton Roads!
If elected, how would you work to address the city’s ongoing challenge grappling with growth, particularly when it comes to adequate infrastructure and overcrowded schools? I believe in balanced growth. I would emphasize the attraction of new businesses and the addition of schools to accommodate this growth.
Where do you stand on the issue of recycling and how would you address it in Chesapeake? Would you act according to the will of the voters on the advisory referendum? The community has made it clear that recycling is a priority, therefore I am open to solutions!
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Patricia Y. King
Age: 63
Occupation/job title: Medical Director/CEO, Dr. King-Jones & Associates
Highest level of education: Medical degree, Meharry Medical College
Previous elected offices held (if any): Chesapeake School Board (2018-2022)
Website: PatKingforChesapeake.com
If elected, what would be your top priority for Chesapeake? The environment and curbside recycling, management of city growth, mental health hospital beds
If elected, how would you work to address the city’s ongoing challenge grappling with growth, particularly when it comes to adequate infrastructure and overcrowded schools? City growth must be well planned and executed. It is necessary for our city to prosper. I will work to ensure that the city addresses the existing infrastructure issues which are resulting in traffic congestion and poor road conditions. I will work with the school board and superintendent to ensure that city growth, in particular areas, can be accommodated by our schools. If growth in designated areas contributes to overcrowding in our schools and compromises the education of our children, I will advocate for the construction of new schools where necessary and indicated.
Where do you stand on the issue of recycling and how would you address it in Chesapeake? Would you act according to the will of the voters on the advisory referendum? As a former Earth Science teacher, I am very concerned about the environment and its impact on our health and overall wellbeing. Hence, I am a strong advocate of recycling and plan to address this issue day one if I am elected. The referendum will be on the ballot in November and as a servant of the people, I will support their desires. There has been overwhelming support of recycling.
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Jennifer Naperala
Age: 55
Occupation/job title: English teacher, Chesapeake Public Schools
Highest level of education: Master of Science in Education, Old Dominion University
Website: jennifernap.com
If elected, what would be your top priority for Chesapeake? My priority is to support initiatives that will serve Chesapeake’s families for generations. Affordable housing: Our working class & young families need affordable housing options before we lose them to less stratified cities. I’m also engaged with the Virginia Housing Alliance & have found options for low-income housing palatable to developers and citizens. Borough representation: Chesapeake needs a less vulnerable voting system that makes elections and reaching City Council less complicated. Collective bargaining: With foreign industry moving to Chesapeake, our employees need to secure protection and fair compensation. Collective bargaining will help slow the eventual undercutting of wages by corporations. Ultimately, my goal is to develop a Chesapeake where everyone feels at home.
If elected, how would you work to address the city’s ongoing challenge grappling with growth, particularly when it comes to adequate infrastructure and overcrowded schools? To remain economically healthy, we can’t halt growth; however, an intentional approach focusing on citizen well-being can improve Chesapeake’s neglected infrastructure & overcrowded schools. Development in Southern Chesapeake must stop. Citizens are coping with strained infrastructure and measurably diminished quality of life. Still, Chesapeake needs reasonably priced housing opportunities, so citizens can become homeowners or renters. Affordable housing will increase enrollment in the nearby schools, which will increase school funding. An increase in residents will also pressure City Council to improve more of the area’s infrastructure. Supporting citizens struggling to find affordable housing allows us to alleviate the untenable pressure of citizens who aren’t.
Where do you stand on the issue of recycling and how would you address it in Chesapeake? Would you act according to the will of the voters on the advisory referendum? The last curbside recycling contract the city was involved in was not well-considered and resulted in fiscal waste. My personal stand is that the city needs to do careful research on the cost of curbside recycling. If we can offer curbside recycling at a manageable rate for the city and — more importantly — for our citizens, I am comfortable entering a shorter contract to provide the service. I’m opposed to entering a long-term contract that may end up being financially wasteful on the back end. Out of respect for our citizens, I could only act according to their will.
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S.Z. “Debbie” Ritter
Age: 75
Occupation/job title: Retired
Highest level of education: Did not answer.
Previous elected offices held (if any): Chesapeake City Council (1998-Present)
Website: None
If elected, what would be your top priority for Chesapeake? Financial stability for our citizens and city.
If elected, how would you work to address the city’s ongoing challenge grappling with growth, particularly when it comes to adequate infrastructure and overcrowded schools? Update and revise our current Levels of Service policy, set priorities as to school and other infrastructure improvements; be sure the Comprehensive Plan review and revision reflects the ability to grow with both existing and planned resources. I will also continue to vote for new residential growth when our schools, roads and other critical infrastructure can absorb the impacts. That includes human infrastructure that provides services to our citizens.
Where do you stand on the issue of recycling and how would you address it in Chesapeake? Would you act according to the will of the voters on the advisory referendum? I hope to see curbside recycling returned to our City. I look forward to seeing the results of the advisory referendum.
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Les Smith Jr.
Age: 63
Occupation/job title: Retired
Highest level of education: Master’s in Human Resource Management, University of Richmond
Website: www.yes2les.com
If elected, what would be your top priority for Chesapeake? Provide affordable housing in the city.
If elected, how would you work to address the city’s ongoing challenge grappling with growth, particularly when it comes to adequate infrastructure and overcrowded schools? Strategically plan ahead and format our infrastructure based upon projected growth. I believe in managed growth and not operating without knowing the impact of actions of development.
Where do you stand on the issue of recycling and how would you address it in Chesapeake? Would you act according to the will of the voters on the advisory referendum? There is no advisory referendum in place. I am open to recycling. As a councilman, I would weigh the public’s opinion, determine the cost and offer options of it being incorporated within the operating budget, would it cost additional money from citizens to provide, and what plan of action can be implemented where it makes sense financially to go into a long term contract with contract service provider.
Editor’s note: The Chesapeake City Council voted in July to place an advisory referendum on the November ballot asking residents whether the city should restore curbside recycling with a monthly fee.
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Jeff B. Staples
Age: 62
Occupation/job title: Director, Save the Dismal Ltd.
Highest level of education: Bachelor’s of History, University of Lynchburg
Website: jeffstaples4chesapeake.com
If elected, what would be your top priority for Chesapeake? Schools. We must provide a stable environment that is conducive to learning. Overcrowding and other factors are hindering stability.
If elected, how would you work to address the city’s ongoing challenge grappling with growth, particularly when it comes to adequate infrastructure and overcrowded schools? I will not vote to approve any residential development in a school zone that is already over 100% capacity. I will find out what it will take to eliminate the overcrowding and advocate for the appropriate response. I forsee that we will have to build a lot more schools. Also, I will push for residential projects in the already developed areas of our city. These areas already have the infrastructure that is required and will produce less of a tax burden on our citizens to build in these areas. I will seek to add new lanes and create new roads in areas that are often hit with traffic back ups. I will not vote to approve new residential development in areas that suffer from heavy traffic until we can alleviate those situations.
Where do you stand on the issue of recycling and how would you address it in Chesapeake? Would you act according to the will of the voters on the advisory referendum? I am very much in favor of returning a recycling program to our community. I am also very much in favor of being a representative of the people. Whichever way the people vote, I will make sure their voice is heard through my vote on the matter.
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Eric V. Wray II
Age: 44
Occupation/job title: President/Funeral Director, E. Vaughn Wray Funeral Establishment
Highest level of education: Associate’s in Applied Science, John Tyler Community College
Military service (if any): Veteran, U.S. Navy
Website: www.EricWray.com
If elected, what would be your top priority for Chesapeake? Infrastructure, economic growth, attract major and small businesses, public safety and safe schools
If elected, how would you work to address the city’s ongoing challenge grappling with growth, particularly when it comes to adequate infrastructure and overcrowded schools? From my election on, we must look at each project on its individual merits as the benchmark is responsible growth. Does it make sense? Will it be detrimental to the residents or beneficial? The overcrowding of schools issue, we will work with our capable school board in addressing costs and needs for new facilities.
Where do you stand on the issue of recycling and how would you address it in Chesapeake? Would you act according to the will of the voters on the advisory referendum? Certainly, we would never want to take funds from public safety as those funds were taken in 2021 from the previous plan. This is a non-binding vote as I will certainly have to work with our new council mates on how to move forward in case this does pass.
