Vice Mayor Jimmy Gray and retired fire Capt. Richelle Wallace are running for mayor.
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James A. “Jimmy” Gray
Age: 68
Job title and company: Retired
Highest level of education: Master of Public Administration from Troy University
Previous elected office: Hampton City Council
Website: jimmygray.org
If elected, what would be your top priority?
Enhance city services to deliver the best possible customer experience for businesses, visitors and residents by advocating for competitive pay to recruit and retain the best employees, increase staffing to support strategic priorities and investing in technology to increase efficiency.
Do you agree with the city’s latest changes to short-term rental regulations? Why or why not? Should short-term rentals be allowed in higher density?
I agree with the latest changes to the short-term rental regulations with the exception of the zoning administrators permit. I preferred maintaining the use permit provision of the regulations that provides for a public hearing for each short-term rental application. The transient nature of short-term rental properties has the potential to change the character of a neighborhood, so permanent residents, who have a desire to protect their home values and quality of life, should have an opportunity to provide input before a use permit for the rental is granted. Once the new regulations are finalized and we have collected enough data to evaluate short-term rental usage and compliance, we can reconsider density limits.
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Richelle Wallace
Age: 54
Job title and company: Retired fire captain
Highest level of education: Bachelor’s in fire administration from Hampton University
Website: richellewallaceformayor.com
If elected, what would be your top priority?
Economic revitalization.
Do you agree with the city’s latest changes to short-term rental regulations? Why or why not? Should short term rentals be allowed in higher density?
*The candidate did not answer the question.
Answers were compiled by the Daily Press staff.
