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Efficiency, car stickers key topics in Beach race
VIRGINIA BEACH - As the incumbent commissioner of the revenue, Philip J. Kellam said he's running on his record of increased efficiency and customer service in the office.
But his opponent, Republican Rickie L. Richards, said Kellam's four years in the office haven't been so efficient and that his proposal to eliminate the city's car sticker could wind up costing taxpayers more money in the end.
On Nov. 6, both men will vie to run the office responsible for assessing all local taxes except property taxes; receiving and reviewing all state and local tax returns; and enforcing compliance with state and local tax laws.
The two have been waging their campaigns via the Internet, mailings and yard signs, and the candidates debated the car-sticker issue on Joel Rubin's "On the Record," a weekend public affairs program on WVEC Channel 13. As of Monday, Richards has spent $19,410 on his campaign; Kellam has spent $97,754 on his.
Kellam, a Democrat, said he's staking his campaign on his performance since taking over as commissioner four years ago.
"I've done everything I promised to do and more," Kellam said. "I've reduced staff by 12 percent and increased productivity by 6 percent. We're doing more with less."
A lifelong Beach resident, husband and father of two boys, Kellam enjoys golfing and surfing with his oldest son. He graduated form Kellam High School and from North Carolina's Elon College before become a certified commissioner of the revenue from the University of Virginia.
Kellam kicked off his campaign by announcing his desire to do away with the city's automobile decals (his website is www.nocitysticker.com), but it's not up to him. The decision rests solely on City Council, which has been quiet on the issue but expressed concern about losing any money.
Kellam also said he wants to continue emphasizing customer service at lower cost to the taxpayer.
He said he's operating on a smaller budget than his office had when he took over four years ago and he's streamlined the number of job titles from 15 to two.
"If you treat people as a valued customer when they have to trade with you, there's nothing that surprises them or pleases them more," Kellam said.
Still, Kellam said he can eliminate the car sticker by using Virginia's Department of Motor Vehicles database to locate and assess the tax on cars and trucks.
Richards, a certified public accountant and 26-year employee of the city's finance department, is the accounting and investment administrator in the Virginia Beach Treasurer's Office.
A former sergeant in the U.S. Air Force, Richards, 54, has sat on the board of the Virginia Beach Municipal Employees Credit Union for more than 22 years. He is also a member of the National Rifle Association and enjoys hunting and freshwater fishing. He's been married to his wife, Sandra, for 33 years.
Though he has never held political office, Richards ran unsuccessfully against Kellam in 1997. Richards said he'll bring integrity to the office and streamline operations through more cooperation between the commissioner and the treasurer's office.
Richards has called Kellam's city sticker agenda "a scam" being perpetrated on the citizens of Virginia Beach, and says Kellam is being shortsighted because he is not suggesting how to replace the $7 million in fees the program generates for the city.
"He's running on a slogan that he's going to do away with the city sticker," Richards said. "It's nothing more than a shell game."
Richards said the money from the decals might need to be covered through an increase in property taxes, a move he opposes.
"It's irresponsible if you say you're going to do away with (the sticker) and not have something to replace it with," Richards said.