Mayoral candidates are incumbent Michael Duman, and challengers Clinton Jenkins and David Bosselman. Suffolk’s mayor and city council races are nonpartisan.

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David Bosselman

Age: 62

Occupation/job title: President, Bosselman Farms, Inc.

Highest level of education: High school diploma or GED from Nansemond Suffolk Academy

Previous elected offices held (if any): Farm Service Agency County Committee

Website: davidbosselmanformayor.com

If elected, what issue will be your top priority to address in Suffolk? If elected as mayor of Suffolk my top priority will be to address the over development facing our city. Our city leadership is not in touch with the citizens of Suffolk and their concerns over this rapid growth. This over development is problematic across the city. When a city has too many citizens crowded into any given community the infrastructure begins to break down. The roads become congested and the public services as well as the school system become strained. This strain on our amenities has caused the need for more and more development and higher taxes for our citizens. The city of Suffolk has put itself in a never-ending cycle of constantly feeding on growth.

What is the right level of development for Suffolk and how would you work in office to advocate for that? The leadership of Suffolk past and present have led the citizens on this constant path of development. There has been no foresight in the development of Suffolk that would ensure the quality of life our citizens crave. City leadership must envision the need for less congestion, more recreational activities, and open space. New residents as well as lifelong residents want to enjoy a quality of life that has been the lure to live here. The time has come for our city to entertain the idea of implementing land preservation and conservation programs to balance all of this rapid growth. Our city needs to be leading the development instead of the development leading the city. The mindset of our leadership must be changed.

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Michael D. “Mike” Duman

Age: 73

Occupation/job title: President of Mike Duman Auto Sales

Highest level of education: Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from Old Dominion University

Previous elected offices held: Mayor of Suffolk (current), City Council member representing the Chuckatuck Borough from 2011 to 2020

Military Service: U.S. Army Reserve, Captain Military Intelligence

Website: www.mikedumanformayor.com

If elected, what issue will be your top priority to address in Suffolk? My top priority will be to maintain a steady tax base by promoting economic growth while managing that growth to ensure our city retains its unique character and our citizens maintain an exemplary quality of life.

What is the right level of development for Suffolk and how would you work in office to advocate for that?  Development should be balanced with the ability to provide infrastructure and public services. Our updated comprehensive plan will serve to provide guidance regarding that growth as it relates to land use, growth management, transportation, municipal services, and housing.

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Clinton Jenkins

Age: 61

Occupation/job title: Property Manager at Jenkins Real Estate, LLC

Highest level of education: Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resource Administration from Saint Leo University

Previous elected offices held (if any): Delegate, Virginia House of Delegates

Military service: U.S. Army

Website: https://clintonforva.com/

If elected, what issue will be your top priority to address in Suffolk? Gun Violence Prevention (more Youth & Family Programs / Activities to get our youth off the streets), Enhance our School System and Grow Business Partnerships with Schools, Improve Infrastructure Roads and Public Transportation, Research and find Sustainable Resources for our growing Elderly Populations, Advocate for Affordable Housing.

What is the right level of development for Suffolk and how would you work in office to advocate for that?  Suffolk has a 2045 Comprehensive Plan. I will work to ensure that the voices of all Suffolk communities are heard, the plan is inclusive of all Suffolk’s communities, including the underserved and our farmers.

The Nansemond Borough incumbent, Vice Mayor Lue Ward, is running unopposed. Sleepy Hole Borough incumbent Roger Fawcett will face Ebony Wright. Whaleyville incumbent LeOtis Williams is running against Jason Wooldridge.

The City Council operates by a nonpartisan borough system, in which the city is divided into seven voting boroughs.

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Nansemond Borough

Lue Ward

Age: 70

Occupation/job title: Founder and Publisher of Harambee Communications

Highest level of education: Some college at Chowan College

Previous elected offices): City Council member serving Nansemond Borough for three terms

If elected, what issue will be your top priority to address in Suffolk? The future. My eyes are totally on the future of our city. Suffolk is celebrating its 50th year as a united city, and the goal over the next four years is to position Suffolk as a viable partner in the Hampton Roads region as well as fulfilling our unique geographic placement regarding the Port of Virginia expansion.

What is the right level of development for Suffolk and how would you work in office to advocate for that? I believe in capitalism, and the theory of the supply chain. When you have more supply then demand, you are about to go out of business. On the other hand, when you have more demand than supply you have an opportunity. Suffolk, Chesapeake, and Virginia Beach basically all have the “green line” going south toward the North Carolina border. So, regional we have a central corridor and opportunities going north. We now have demand in our growth zone, and we are going to maximize on the planned development model, i.e. Harbour View and Hillpoint as the model going forward. The one thing I am going to work on is making sure that we remember the older communities like Pughsville and make sure that we maximize infill development.

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Sleepy Hole Borough

Roger Fawcett

Age: 72

Occupation/job title: retired, former Fire Chief at Norfolk Naval Base and former Virginia State Police Sex Crimes Unit Compliance Officer

Highest level of education: some college, took Fire Sciences courses at Tidewater Community College

Previous elected offices: Suffolk City Council from 2013 to present

Military service: U.S. Navy 1969-1972

Website: rogerfawcett.com/

If elected, what issue will be your top priority to address in Suffolk? Keep taxes low and maintain the City’s AAA (excellent) bond rating. Having strong city finances is vital to everything else the city does.

What is the right level of development for Suffolk and how would you work in office to advocate for that? Follow our city comprehensive plan. The city is developing a new 2045 Plan that will be debated and adopted in September or October. These documents provide our developmental plans.

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Ebony Wright

Age: 47

Occupation/job title: Management analyst at the Department of Defense

Highest level of education: Master of Business Administration from Saint Leo University

Military Service: U.S. Navy

Website: wrightforsuffolk.com/

If elected, what issue will be your top priority to address in Suffolk?  Infrastructure development

What is the right level of development for Suffolk and how would you work in office to advocate for that?

The right level of development for Suffolk is well-developed infrastructure that balances smart economic growth with environmental protection to improve the quality of life for residents. Suffolk is the largest city in Virginia by land. I believe there is sufficient land to accommodate multiple purposes, to include but not limited to agricultural, residential and commercial. I will work to advocate for the right level of development through strategic planning, taking into account social, economic, and environmental factors. It’s important to me that residents are part of the development and decision-making process.

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Whaleyville Borough

Jason Wooldridge

Age: 50

Occupation/job title: Engineer III, Oceaneering International, Inc.

Highest level of education: Bachelor of Science in Electronics Engineering from Excelsior College

Military service: U.S. Navy

Website: jw4va.com

If elected, what issue will be your top priority to address in Suffolk? Protecting the loss of our agricultural land due to overdevelopment while still supporting the economic growth of our city.

What is the right level of development for Suffolk and how would you work in office to advocate for that?

Suffolk’s growth rate is outpacing our ability to support our basic needs. More schools, fire & police stations are needed for growth. We must improve the condition and capacity of our roadways & infrastructure systems. This is costly to taxpayers. The citizens have said they do not want expansion into our agricultural areas. Suffolk has clear agricultural ties, and we are losing farmland which has a negative economic effect. I am not against growth, but we need to focus on redeveloping areas of the city vs expanding into undeveloped land. Focusing on redevelopment in areas such as downtown should be a priority vs the current course we are on. This area can provide opportunities and affordable housing solutions compared to sacrificing the city’s valuable agricultural land and heritage.

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LeOtis Williams

Williams did not respond to this survey.

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Nansemond Borough

Valerie Fields

Age: 64

Occupation/job title: Retired Suffolk public school teacher

Highest level of education: Master’s, Norfolk State University

Student mental health has been a growing concern for parents and schools. How can school boards address the issue?

The School Board can address the issue of students’ mental health by continuing to support the superintendent’s health services programs which address the physical, emotional, mental and social health needs of students. Counseling services, crisis teams and an anonymous tip line to report any form of bullying are a few of the initiatives available to students to support mental health. Strong support of such initiatives will ultimately safeguard the mental health of students of the district.

Name one of the most pressing issues for your division and how you would address it.

One of the most pressing issues for is the need for capital resources for the improvement of schools. I would address the issue by collaborating with the current School Board to understand the need, network to seek the needed funding and transparently communicate with stakeholders regarding progress. As the district increases in housing and communities, many of the schools in the district have exceeded or are approaching capacity and/or shelf life and are in need of expansion and/or updates. The need to remediate the use of mobile units as classrooms is present in many of the schools. Capital resources to address the issues must be a priority for the School Board.

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James E. Shores

Age: 56

Occupation/job title: Program management analyst, Department of Defense

Highest level of education: Juris Doctor, Regent School of Law

Military experience: Retired Lt. Col., U.S. Marines, Naval Aviator

Website: shores4suffolkschools.com

Student mental health has been a growing concern for parents and schools. How can school boards address the issue?

Department of Education has posted a really good reference on this subject. I think their approach and recommendations (7), on page 2, are spot on. Budgets and prioritization of the same is always a challenge. The climate surveys that Dr. Gordon, our superintendent, utilizes are a good start in picking up indicators on potential mental health concerns. Recently, the chairperson of the SPS Safety Committee attempted to address the mental health of the student population, to incorporate it into the safety program, but it did not seem to garner support from the school administrators. This was my observation, not saying the administrators don’t care. I think it was a well, thought-out recommendation, and therefore if elected I’d like to propose the board take action on it.

Name one of the most pressing issues for your division and how you would address it.

Parent confidence in our public schools. Exodus to home and private schooling. Teacher morale and retention. Only 52 of surveyed teachers saying there is high morale is unacceptable. Demographics. Northeast Suffolk is experiencing a boom in population. Our high schools are already at maximum capacity. If budgets are not aligned to stay ahead of the growing population, overcrowding will have a negative effect on education quality and teacher-to-student ratios.

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Whaleyville Borough

Thelma V. Hinton

Age: 66

Occupation/job title: Retired, stay-at-home mom

Highest level of education: Bachelor’s, Norfolk State University

Previous elected offices held: Suffolk City School Board, 2009-2012

Website: sites.google.com/view/thelma-v-hinton-for-suffolk-sc/home?authuser=0

Student mental health has been a growing concern for parents and schools. How can school boards address the issue?

In 2023, Democrats in the Virginia General Assembly voted to provide more mental health services for students, including proposing to require divisions to employ additional counselors and provide instruction on mental health in every classroom and required the school bus drivers to receive mental health training. School Board members should work together to implement these provisions and bills. The School Board can also help by having the school social worker, psychologist and the school nurse to be the front-runners to address these issues and it is called S.O.A.P. (Subject Objective Assessment and Planning).

Name one of the most pressing issues for your division and how you would address it.

School safety looks at hazards and overall conditions that will disrupt the learning environment. Issues such as COVID-19, fire hazards, infectious diseases, crime and the like are concerns. The pressing issue of physical safety of students and staff within our facilities is the first priority. As a School Board candidate with a focus on equity, equality and fiscal accountability, I believe the School Board should consistently review safety issues surrounding funding for adequate resource officers, secured access doors all around the buildings, fencing, proper lighting, security cameras, metal detectors, and training for staff, custodial workers and all support staff. Security Equipment Grant Management is a current grant provided by the Virginia Department of Education . This is one of the areas I would recommend our board to research and apply for annually.

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Sean McGee

Age: 41

Occupation/job title: Critical asset risk program manager, Air Combat Command, U.S. Air Force

Highest level of education: Bachelor’s, Saint Leo University

Military experience: U.S. Marine Corps

Website: www.seanmcgeeforsuffolkschools.com

Student mental health has been a growing concern for parents and schools. How can school boards address the issue?

1. Prevention: We must equip our teachers and staff—those who interact with students daily—with the tools and training needed to identify the signs and symptoms of mental health struggles. By providing them with additional resources and support, we can ensure they are better prepared to recognize when a student is in need. Furthermore, it’s crucial to develop comprehensive educational programs for students and their families, raising awareness about mental health issues and the resources available to them.

2. Support: The School Board should advocate for increased funding to expand the number of dedicated mental health professionals, such as therapists, social workers, and counselors in our schools, that our students have immediate access to.

Name one of the most pressing issues for your division and how you would address it.

As the husband of a Suffolk Public Schools teacher and the father of five children currently attending elementary, middle and high school within SPS, one of the most urgent concerns within our division is the safety of our schools. In June, Suffolk Public Schools released their annual climate survey, revealing alarming statistics: 37% of students and 27% of teachers and staff reported not feeling safe at school. Conduct comprehensive risk and vulnerability assessments for all schools to identify and mitigate all security gaps. Establish a Threat Working Group that proactively meets to evaluate security postures and make informed decisions based on emerging threats and intelligence. Advocate for the assignment of armed officers at every school, with the ultimate goal of having two dedicated officers per school to ensure a robust security presence.

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Jonathan Rankin

Age: 39

Occupation/job title: Professional CDL truck driver, G&G Farms

Highest level of education: some college toward a Business Administration degree

Military experience: One year in the Navy

Website: www.rankin4whaleyville.com

Student mental health has been a growing concern for parents and schools. How can school boards address the issue?

As with any problem the board would have to first, identify and define the problem as there may be multiple problems contributing to the main problem; define the goals and desired outcomes; there must be a deep dive into identifying the root cause of the problem or problems; develop an action plan; execute the action plan and evaluate/assess the results and apply additional analysis for continuous improvements. The School Board could bring in an independent body to do the study. The results of the study could then be used to develop and implement new policies and programs toward improved mental health. Clearly defined metrics should be used to evaluate policies and programs for effectiveness.

Name one of the most pressing issues for your division and how you would address it.

Student achievement is far below standards. I will be looking at policies and programs that are not achieving the results intended and look to fellow board members to join me to modify or eliminate those that are failing to produce results or are determined to be ineffective. I will do this through communication and cohesive collaboration.

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Sleepy Hole Borough

Carly Bosco

Age: 44

Occupation/job title: Senior director for Research and Operations, National Institute of Aerospace

Highest level of education: Master’s, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Website: www.boscoforsuffolk.com

Student mental health has been a growing concern for parents and schools. How can school boards address the issue?

A first step to help combat the mental health stressors of our students is to ensure a school environment that is welcoming and accepting of everyone. We need to ensure policies can quickly and effectively deal with bullying and other behaviors that contribute to negative self-images and social withdrawal. We also need to increase the amount of counselors in our schools to maintain realistic student ratios. One positive effect of COVID was greater acceptance and integration of social, emotional learning (SEL) lessons in schools. Putting the full burden of SEL onto the shoulders of teachers and counselors though is unrealistic. This is a place where districts can leverage community organizations that are trying to address mental health. Erika’s Lighthouse is an example, but there are smaller, local organizations also that can provide resources to students, families and staff, as well as foster family engagement.

Name one of the most pressing issues for your division and how you would address it. 

Suffolk is not unique in facing staffing difficulty and teacher drain. While this is a systemic issue, we are losing not only teachers who are opting out of teaching altogether but also teachers who are opting to move to other local districts. Pay is always an issue, but we need to take a hard look at what other factors are creating an environment where teachers actively pursue opportunities outside the district. Employee retention is strongly linked to morale and this is an area we have the power to control even more than pay scales. In the recent climate survey the district conducted, only 51% of high school staff felt morale was high. This leaves 49% who do not, which is troubling. The results in this survey overall from instructional staff certainly point to areas we need to act on with meaningful efforts to make substantive positive change.

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Heather Howell

Heather Howell did not respond to The Virginian-Pilot’s questionnaire in time for publication.

Officers responded to the 6100 block of Old Townpoint Road following a report of a shooting at about 2 p.m. Monday. Officers found Alvin Brown Jr., of Suffolk, with a gunshot wound in his chest. He was taken to the hospital, where he died.

Police have not released any information about potential suspects, and the investigation is ongoing.

Eliza Noe, eliza.noe@virginiamedia.com

Police responded to the 6100 block of Old Townpoint Road following a report of a shooting at about 2 p.m. Officers found a man with a gunshot wound in his chest.

The victim later died at a hospital. The investigation is ongoing.

No further information was made available as of Monday evening.

Gavin Stone, 757-712-4806, gavin.stone@virginiamedia.com

Chesapeake, Suffolk, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Hampton have installed speed cameras in local school and work zones to deter speeding and enhance overall public safety.

Though law enforcement leaders tout the equipment as a safety measure to deter speeding, the cameras can also be significant moneymakers — with Chesapeake and Suffolk already raking in millions.

Chesapeake has a dozen cameras that have been active since 2022. The city reports a total of 158,075 violations since then, along with about $9.7 million in revenue.

Another 10 cameras in Suffolk went active in fall 2023 along with one at a work zone. Since then, the city reports roughly 196,000 citations, collecting $14.2 million in revenue. After paying the vendor, net revenue is $10.5 million. Suffolk did not specify whether the citation and revenue figures provided to The Virginian-Pilot were specific to school and work zone speed cameras only. The city also operates red light and school bus cameras.

Both cities previously said net revenue would go toward highway safety improvements and personnel costs.

The school zone speed cameras in Chesapeake and Suffolk are targeted in two lawsuits brought by former Del. Tim Anderson, an attorney who alleges the cities are improperly issuing speeding violations and allowing third party vendors to impersonate local government when collecting fees.

Anderson’s case in Suffolk is awaiting an order from a judge on whether it will move forward. A hearing in the Chesapeake case is scheduled for Sept. 18.

The Virginia General Assembly approved legislation in 2020 that allows state and local police to set up speed cameras at highway work sites and school crossing zones. Under that law, only motorists caught going at least 10 mph over the speed limit are ticketed up to $100.

Hampton is in the process of rolling out a dozen cameras in school zones this fall as part of a pilot program with staggered warning periods.

A 30-day warning period began Aug. 26 for cameras located near Bethel High School, Hampton High School and Hunter B. Andrews Pre-K. A 30-day grace period will begin for cameras at Jones Magnet Middle School, Kecoughtan High School, Lindsay Middle School and Machen Elementary School by Sept. 30. And cameras at another set of schools — Mary W. Jackson Elementary School, Thomas Eaton Middle School, Aberdeen Elementary School, Barron Elementary School and William Mason Cooper Elementary — will have a 30-day grace period beginning no later than Oct. 15.

Hampton city officials said about $3.5 million would be budgeted for the school zone speed camera pilot program.

Norfolk has 19 cameras in place across 10 public school locations. A 60-day warning period was slated to end in May, but a city spokesperson said last week that the cameras are still in an active warning period “until summons language can be resolved with the general district court and our vendor, Verra Mobility.”

Part of Anderson’s complaint in his lawsuits was that officers weren’t issuing an official Virginia summons document consistent with other traffic infractions when making the speeding citations.

Portsmouth has 16 cameras, and police began fining drivers in December. The city reports 28,289 citations and $951,061 of revenue collected between January and June. Of the total revenue, $565,042 will be paid to the third-party vendor.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated with the latest citations and revenue figures from the city of Portsmouth. The city provided the figures after the article published.

Natalie Anderson, 757-732-1133, natalie.anderson@virginiamedia.com

And industry leaders view improvements in technology as another way to expand access to banking.

Chase Bank continues to expand its retail banking presence in Hampton Roads and expects to open at least 10 more branches by 2027, regional director Alfonso Guzman said.

“We’re big believers in our branches,” Guzman said. “We really believe they are the pillars of the community and they’re important parts of every community.”

Chase currently has two branches in Norfolk and Williamsburg and one each in Newport News and Virginia Beach. By the end of this year, Chase plans to open a second branch in Virginia Beach along with branches in Hampton and Chesapeake, Guzman said. The remaining five new branches will open between 2025 and 2027.

While Chase puts its digital focus on the forefront, Guzman said its branches are still a part of its strategy to meet clients within their communities.

“It’s not either/or,” he said. “We want to make sure that human-to-human interaction is still top of mind and a priority for us as we continue to grow.”

Dollar Bank has opened nine branches since entering the market, said Dave Paradise, senior vice president of Dollar Bank’s Virginia Division. Dollar Bank has 13 branches in South Hampton Roads, including four from its acquisition of Bank @lantec in 2017.

While Dollar Bank has no immediate plans to add branches, it actively looks for opportunities in low- to moderate-income census tracts throughout its markets, Paradise said.

“Technology has really improved access to banking services, which means that it is easier for people to bank with us in a way that is convenient for them,” Paradise said.

In an effort to help Hispanic and immigrant consumers, Chartway Credit Union, which has 16 branches in Suffolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake and Norfolk, opened its first fully bilingual branch in the state in Virginia Beach at the end of April.

And Fulton Bank launched a diverse business banking program designed to meet the needs of minority, women, veteran and LGBTQ business owners last summer. Fulton Bank operates five financial centers in Hampton Roads, including three in Virginia Beach and one each in Chesapeake and Newport News, spokesperson Steve Trapnell said. Last year, Fulton opened a commercial banking office in Norfolk.

“We are committed to making financing and banking products more accessible to groups that, historically, have been underserved,” Fulton Bank Chairman and CEO Curt Myers said.

Sandra J. Pennecke, 757-652-5836, sandra.pennecke@pilotonline.com

Defined as a census tract without a physical bank branch within a certain geographic radius from the population center, banking deserts exist where banks are more than 2 miles from an urban area, 5 miles for suburban and 10 miles for rural communities.

While the 2008 financial crisis led to bank closures and consolidations, the pace of branch closures accelerated during and since the COVID-19 pandemic. The total number of bank and credit union branches in the U.S. declined by 5.6% and the number of banking deserts increased by 217 between 2019 and 2023, according to a national report published by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. The focus of the report is full-service, brick-and-mortar retail branches, including those of savings and loan associations, commercial banks and credit unions.

Hampton Roads experienced a 38% reduction, or a loss of 143 bank branches from 381 in 2008 to 238 branches in 2023, according to Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. market share reports. The region experienced a 22% reduction by 69 branches from 307 in 2019. These figures don’t include credit unions.

The branch closures coincide with the rise of digital banking, including mobile and online services, and the use of kiosks and ATMs. Long gone are the days when consumers had to walk inside banks for their transactions.

But banking deserts affect people who struggle with transportation, digital services, high-speed internet access and skills to navigate websites and apps, according to the report. It can also greatly impede consumers with lower incomes, disabilities or language barriers — who may still tend to favor in-person banking.

The Fed study shows that 5% of census tracts in Virginia last year were banking deserts and 3% may become a desert if a branch closes. Of those tracts, 80% are suburban and 46% have limited access to broadband.

In Hampton Roads, the Federal Reserve’s interactive dashboard map shows that the southern parts of Virginia Beach (including Blackwater, Sandbridge and part of Pungo), Chesapeake and Suffolk are all banking deserts with the nearest branches from 2 miles to 9 miles away. The region is considered a mix of urban and suburban.

A small urban tract in the Lee Hall section of Newport News, with a population of approximately 3,400, shows its nearest branch is 3 miles away. In Willoughby Spit and West Ocean View on the northern end of Norfolk and in the Lynnwood section of Virginia Beach, consumers have to travel between 2 to 3 miles for their banking needs.

Parts of Isle of Wight and Gloucester counties and the northern Outer Banks area of Corolla also fall within a banking desert. Hampton, Portsmouth, Poquoson, Williamsburg, James City County and York County show no banking deserts although Mathews County is marked as a potential desert, meaning the area is one branch closure away from becoming a desert.

Both larger banks and community-based banks reduced their physical presence in Hampton Roads over the past several years, according to closing notices with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

The merger of BB&T and SunTrust as Truist in late 2019 led to a major consolidation of branches in the region. Bank of America and Wells Fargo have closed multiple branches across Hampton Roads. Bank of America closed its Fort Eustis and Lynnhaven Square branches this year. Wells Fargo most recently closed its Richmond Road branch in Williamsburg in January and its Wells Fargo Center branch in November in downtown Norfolk, where it maintains an ATM.

Hampton-based Old Point National Bank has also closed multiple branches over the past several years and recently announced it will close its downtown Norfolk branch in September due to cost-cutting efforts.

Suffolk-based TowneBank’s acquisition of Windsor-based Farmers Bank also meant the closure of the Farmers branches in Pungo and Chesapeake last year as TowneBank operated locations nearby. TowneBank also closed its Harbour View branch at 6255 College Drive in Suffolk last year.

PNC Bank plans to close a standalone branch at 3012 Pacific Ave. in Virginia Beach on Oct. 18 in an ongoing effort to optimize its physical bank network, spokesperson Kelby Krauss said. Customers will be directed to the branch at 1324 N. Great Neck Road. PNC Bank has 10 branches, ATMs and video banking machines in Hampton Roads.

“Branch locations remain an essential aspect of how we connect with and support our clients and the local community,” Krauss said.

View the banking deserts dashboard at fedcommunities.org/data/banking-deserts-dashboard/.

Sandra J. Pennecke, 757-652-5836, sandra.pennecke@pilotonline.com

Donna and Deborah Taylor, siblings who live together in Suffolk, came up with the idea seven years ago. It all started because of Deborah’s dismay one morning of Donna’s worn baby doll nightgown and mismatched bonnet.

“My sister said it looked horrible and didn’t look comfortable,” Donna Taylor said. “And she was right.”

Admitting she doesn’t usually pay attention to her younger sister’s comments, Donna Taylor said she thought maybe this time she had a point. She searched for sleepwear with matching bonnets, but when she couldn’t find any, she sat down at her sewing machine — a skill learned in New Jersey grade school — and designed her own.

At the time, the Taylor sisters were both in the throes of menopause with hot flashes and night sweats in full swing. So, they agreed the sleepwear needed to be luxurious but also cooling.

“It couldn’t just be any type of fabric,” Donna Taylor said. “It had to be breathable and comfortable as well as presentable.”

They selected pajama pants and short sets, nightgowns, sleep shirts and onesies made from brushed viscose, a soft fabric derived from bamboo known for its moisture-wicking properties. The Taylors design the custom-printed fabric.

Each item comes with a matching satin-lined elasticized bonnet with a drawstring. Bonnets or some sort of hair covering are a staple in the Black community to keep hair from tangling, frizzing and drying out.

The sleepwear, available up to size 3X, is for women going through perimenopause, menopause or those with sensitive skin who also want to protect their hair.

“We are offering a solution from a sleep perspective to address the need that women have,” Donna Taylor said.

And the five-star reviews on the business’ website reflect that they have done just that. One customer commented that she has horrible night sweats and hot flashes but slept well after using one of the pajama pants sets, so she ordered another pair.

The sisters first launched the business in 2018 on a designer’s platform before revamping and relaunching two years later as e-commerce business Sleep Sassy.

Donna Taylor left corporate America after 40 years to become an entrepreneur. Deborah Taylor maintains a full-time job in the pharmaceutical industry, but helps her sister often.

In April, the duo auditioned for “Shark Tank,” a TV show where entrepreneurs pitch their concepts to famous investors, at Rivers Casino in Portsmouth. They weren’t selected but plan to try again.

For more information, visit sleepsassy.com.

Sandra J. Pennecke, 757-652-5836, sandra.pennecke@pilotonline.com

Suffolk Circuit Court Judge Alfred Bates III heard a case Tuesday brought by former Del. Tim Anderson against the city of Suffolk. In April, Anderson filed a lawsuit in the circuit courts of Chesapeake and Suffolk alleging the cities are improperly issuing speeding violations and allowing third party vendors to impersonate local government when collecting fees. State code says that “any prosecution shall be instituted and conducted in the same manner as prosecution for traffic infractions.”

The crux of the dispute at Tuesday’s hearing was whether the city is entitled to sovereign immunity, a legal doctrine that protects government entities from some legal action. Suffolk Assistant City Attorney Rebecca Powers also disputed, through examples of case law, the interpretation of the word “shall” in state code, noting that the term doesn’t mean it’s mandatory to follow the law precisely as written. The city also argues, through a demurrer, that the plaintiff’s claims are false and the case should be tossed out.

After the hearing, Powers declined to comment. A city spokesperson also declined to comment.

Anderson has said state code for school and work zone cameras in particular is specific about issuing citations with the same official uniform Virginia summons issued for other traffic infractions. It also allows cities to contract with third-party private companies to provide the services. But Anderson’s argument Tuesday was that while cities have the right to use the equipment and issue fines, they can’t do it through a private third-party. And that by doing so, the city waived its sovereign immunity.

“(When) courts have wrestled with this before, there’s really never been a situation where the government has said, ‘You owe us money,’ and then the citizen says, ‘I don’t think you’re doing it legally,'” Anderson said after Tuesday’s hearing. “So I think it’s a case of real first impression for the court to wrestle with.”

The General Assembly approved legislation in 2020 allowing state and local police to set up speed cameras at highway work sites and school crossing zones. Under that law, only motorists caught going at least 10 mph over the speed limit are ticketed.

Several Hampton Roads cities have installed speed cameras since in an effort to deter speeding and enhance public safety. A dozen cameras went live in Chesapeake in 2022. Suffolk has cameras at 10 schools and one work zone — launched last year.

As of April, Chesapeake police issued 150,788 citations and collected $9.35 million in fines, according to information provided by the city. Suffolk issued 167,883 as of March and had collected $11.72 million in fines.

Anderson’s client in the Suffolk case, whom he’s representing pro bono, is Curtis Lytle from the city of Zuni. He received a notice of violation in June in a Suffolk work zone.

A hearing in the Chesapeake case is scheduled in September. Anderson had also filed a federal lawsuit challenging the use of the cameras, but said Tuesday that case had been withdrawn while the state lawsuits play out.

The judge said he’d issue a ruling on the sovereign immunity claim as well as the demurrer within 30 days via a letter.

Natalie Anderson, 757-732-1133, natalie.anderson@virginiamedia.com