Tim Worst, a Virginia Beach native has declared his candidacy for City Council today, challenging Barbara Henley, the Council’s longest-serving member, to represent the Princess Anne District. The press announcement was done on his Facebook page.
Worst has gained a large backing in the city following a viral video (below) in which he was shouted down by Mayor Will Sessoms during a recent Virginia Beach City Council meeting.
While addressing the Council, Worst challenged the city’s plans for a $25 million taxpayer-funded development on city-owned property along the 15th Street Pier. The development, which includes plans for a large Ferris wheel, has become a hot-button issue in a city facing large-scale infrastructure issues that residents, including Worst, feel have been pushed to the back burner in favor of politically motivated pet projects. In his comments to the City Council, Worst accused Mayor Sessoms of colluding with local developer Bruce Thompson, calling the vote ‘a given in favor of the pier,’ and asked the how a Ferris wheel could possibly be used ‘when the temperature is 30 or 40 degrees.’
When reached for comment by Politics Elections, Worst addressed the longstanding issue of public/private development partnerships in the city, saying ‘this is not capitalism, this is not a fair market. For example, City View II was approved and a developer gets $10 million in incentives. On the pier project, the city will pay at least $25 million and five families plus Bruce Thompson cash in, while we have flooding and infrastructure issues all over Virginia Beach. How does the City Council tell to citizens to wait 10-15 years for flood issues to be resolved while giving away millions of dollars to developers? It’s asinine!’
Worst also dove into other issues he hopes to address during his campaign, and bring to the Council if elected, including term limits, and a return to the basic functions of local government. ‘I will bring common sense,’ said Worst. ‘I will bring heart and soul, and a lifelong love for Virginia Beach. We need to get back to the basics of public safety, infrastructure, and education.’
Tim Worst’s video can be seen below.
