Virginia Beach City Council District 2: Candidates spotlight
K. Elaine Fekete
Age: 59
Occupation: Realtor
Previous office held, if any: N/A
Education: College graduate, Virginia Tech
1. What experience do you have that makes you qualified to serve on the City Council?
I have been a homeowner in the district in Sandbridge for 27 years. My family and I have experienced Sandbridge becoming today’s vibrant and cohesive community. I currently serve as vice president of the Sandbridge Beach Civic League, with 2,000 members, and been involved with local government as an advocate for community concerns, such as flooding, infrastructure, taxes, schools, and Sandbridge short term rentals. I have worked with many city departments, including planning, zoning, and public works. I will be ready on day one to serve all residents. I was raised on a family farm in nearby Southampton County and am familiar with the farming industry. Farming makes up a large portion of District 2, which is vital to our city as the #3 industry. I have professional experience in high-level negotiations, collaborations, and prioritizing multi-departmental responsibilities such as budgeting, planning, forecasting, marketing, operations, and distribution with half billion-dollar budgets.
2. If elected, what would be your top priority and how would you get it done?
The most critical issue facing the city is the increasing cost of living and the effect on the citizens’ quality of life. Residential real estate assessments rose 11.29% this year and Council voted to raise taxes 9%. This affects every citizen, whether you own or rent your home. Although our economy is facing the worst inflation in decades, the State is working to refund surplus taxes, and the city is projecting excess revenue; City Council voted to raise taxes. I will work to provide tax relief in the immediate future and greater fiscal responsibility in the budget process. In addition, I will fight for a suspension of the meal tax, the 3rd highest in the country, and for a return of 50% of the tax surplus to the citizens. I will be the voice of the people and will bring back transparency and accountability to the citizens.
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Barbara Henley
Age: 80
Occupation: Henley Farm
Previous office held, if any: Beach City Council, Princess Anne District
Education: Bachelor of Science in elementary education and master’s degree in urban studies, Old Dominion University
1. What experience do you have that makes you qualified to serve on the City Council?
I served originally as the Pungo Borough city council representative, and now am the Princess Anne Representative. That experience will serve well to represent the new District 2, an area which encompasses the southern rural part of the city. I am a former school teacher and am a lifelong resident of this diverse area, which includes the rural and transition area south of the Green Line, suburban areas immediately to the north and the community of Sandbridge. The agricultural industry needs a representative that knows firsthand the issues that face agriculture. With our active family farm, I have that experience. I know well the unique geography and hydrology of the area, and have successfully worked to make the Southern Watershed understood for its needs. I understand the broader issues such as city budgeting and comprehensive planning, as well as having the institutional knowledge sorely needed to keep moving forward.
2. If elected, what would be your top priority and how would you get it done?
It will be a challenge to represent a unique part of the city while also assuring Virginia Beach remains strong for the future. My work developing the Agricultural Reserve Program has helped assure we have an industry and a rural area for the future. Now we have to maintain it. The Back Bay Marsh and SAV restoration projects, the West Neck Creek improvements, raising Pungo Ferry Road and the Newbridge/Sandbridge intersection are extremely important projects to address the flooding problems we already have. I will see these projects through. I will continue to see that the southern area receives adequate city services such as the road and drainage projects in the current CIP. Keeping “the county” safe with its outstanding Fire Stations and EMS offerings, as well as a strong First Precinct is critical. A strong southern area will contribute to a strong city. Policies here can be supported citywide.
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Michael Mauch
Age: 39
Occupation: Owner, Harvest Restaurant and Rooftop
Previous office held, if any: N/A
Education: Creeds Elementary, Princess Anne Middle and Kellam High School
1. What experience do you have that makes you qualified to serve on City Council?
I was born, raised and still live in Pungo, Virginia Beach. I have a vast understanding of our city and the agricultural community. I’ve been an entrepreneur most of my life, opening my first business at 19. My wife and I own a restaurant and a retail store. We opened our restaurant in 2019, just prior to COVID shutting everything down. I’m no stranger to hard work and long hours. Those traits are what provide for our family, but my passion is to serve my community. I’ve served on numerous boards, commissions and non-profits, including the Resort Advisory Commission, Virginia Beach Restaurant Association and Advertising Advisory Commission. Through my work with non-profits and on council-appointed commissions, I understand the needs and how the city operates to get things accomplished. I’m ready to put my experience to work for my neighbors in District 2 as your next member of City Council.
2. If elected, what would be your top priority and how would you get it done?
It’s abundantly clear that we need a new voice for District 2, one who can advocate for our largest economic engines and give tax relief to citizens while bringing new jobs and salaries to Virginia Beach. Preserving our Agricultural Community is crucial. As a lifelong and current resident of Pungo, I will continue to have unwavering support for the Green Line and the preservation of the Agricultural Reserve Program to protect our district. I will work with Economic Development to ensure that our city is attracting companies that will provide the types of jobs that will bring our children back to Virginia Beach after graduation. Furthermore, I will make sure that we are expanding existing and establishing new programs that will teach hands-on skills to provide a prosperous career in the trades. These ideas earned me the endorsement of the Virginia Beach Education Association.
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Nanette Miller
Age: 65
Occupation: Commander, US Navy-retired
Previous office held, if any: I have never held an elected public office before.
Education: Master’s degree in American government, Regent University; Bachelor’s degree in criminology and history, Saint Leo University
1. What experience do you have that makes you qualified to serve on the City Council?
I have 32 years of naval service, while supporting my husband, who served as a Navy SEAL. I have a proven record of leadership and managerial experiences. I have worked at various levels of government, have deployed throughout the Middle East and Europe, worked with foreign partners as well as numerous government agencies. Living in different cities, states and countries provides an opportunity to see what is good and bad in governments, from local to national.
2. If elected, what would be your top priority and how would you get it done?
Lowering taxes for all citizens, ensuring public safety, and finding a balance between economic development and land use. Lowering the tax burden for all of our citizens will have an immediate effect at every level of our economic base in the City of Virginia Beach. Fully supporting and funding our Public Safety System is the cornerstone of a well-run city and needs constant attention to ensure its capability is focused on providing safety. The city of Virginia Beach is growing so fast that everyone needs to slow down and find a balance between economic development, land use and the new stormwater management program.
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M. Paul Telkamp
Age: 46
Occupation: Owner of an IT consulting company
Previous office held, if any: N/A
Education: High school and vocational
1. What experience do you have that makes you qualified to serve on the City Council?
I’m a single dad of three high school aged daughters attending Virginia Beach Public Schools. So I figured, what could possibly be the next hardest thing in life I could do? So I’m running for City Council as a small business owner committed to ensuring citizens have a seat at the table, instead of waiting to see what City Council takes off the table. The last few years have been very tough and divisive and Virginia Beach families and businesses have lost a lot. I understand that feeling more than I wish I did. That’s why I’m such an advocate for mental health and social services. Watching the mother of my daughters undergo surgery after surgery before we lost her was unbearable. But we learned how to fight for what’s left and rebuild. That’s what I want to do on City Council.
2. If elected, what would be your top priority and how would you get it done?
Helping build a city ready for the future my daughters and their friends deserve. Our schools need an advocate, not an agitator, and our businesses need dialogue with economic development, the Commissioner of the Revenue and the Treasurer’s office to streamline services. The priority is to do the job so our children can grow up and have one here.
