Referendum – Déjà vu all over again?

"Should the City Council adopt an ordinance approving the development and financing of the proposed Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Naval Base Light Rail transit project?"

Follow up:

That question appeared on the Virginia Beach ballot on November 2, 1999. Fifty-four per cent of the respondents said no; hence, the council vowed to end further light rail discussion in Virginia Beach.

Now, again, a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) is underway, a hand-picked Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) has been appointed, and a professional publicity agency for citizenry and media relations is engaged. This is a more serious and focused approach than the past iteration.

But what about the public input through referendum?

Top business leaders in Virginia Beach from the Chamber of Commerce, the Virginia Beach Business Round-table and Virginia Beach Vision, have come out against the city holding a referendum on a light-rail project, arguing it's a decision the City Council should make. These groups represent real estate, development, retail and hospitality interests. They also represent much of the campaign funds that finance the Mayor’s and City Council campaigns.

Now, Mayor Will Sessoms admits he was mistaken in agreeing to a referendum as a campaign promise. At last look, there were six prospective votes on council to seek answers through referendum, but that is iffy and in all likelihood a referendum will never be presented to the electorate.

UNLESS,. . . . .the citizens petition for the question to appear before the electorate again. What it will take is garnering signatures of Virginia Beach registered voters equivalent to 20 percent of those voting in the previous election. For example, to appear on the November 2010 Congressional election, signatures of one-fifth the number voting in this November’s Gubernatorial must be submitted to the Virginia Beach registrar. The question would have been registered with the Circuit Court Clerk.

This process is being considered and spearheaded by activists interested in choice from various groups.