May 15, 2008
City winners
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Tuesday's city election was notable for preserving both incumbents, entrenching the conservative values of the town. Now they can put the three-person rule and density controversy behind them to focus on more pressing matters.
All three winners should consider improving the city's primary business, tourism. Ironically, the re-election of two of them and that of a former county supervisor positions all three to do something ambitious instead of cautious.
Paul Freiling's re-election should embolden him to promote tourism without violating his inherent conflict-of-interest with Colonial Williamsburg. During the 1970s Charlie Hackett was a dynamic force for tourism when he was a CW vice president and served on council.
Clyde Haulman is a big supporter of tourism and WADMC, and as an economist he's well equipped to do a better job pushing the string. His regional connections help immensely.
Judy Knudson's victory is a credit to a life of community service, most recently at Olde Towne Medical Center. She is perfectly suited to becoming a bridge to the James City Board of Supervisors if the new majority can see its way past her Democratic leanings. Having done nothing for tourism in James City, she has an opportunity to right that wrong in the city.
Gil Granger came achingly close to winning. His eleventh-hour idea of undergrounding all the wiring in the city was wacky, but it gets you to thinking that beautification is a function of tourism marketing.
Leading the ballot does not automatically advance an agenda, but a bloc built by Freiling would be formidable. A review of this particular four-year cycle shows that Mickey Chohany was smart enough not to let his 1,214 votes in 2004 go to his head. In 2000 Haulman led with 1,082 votes, but it was no landslide. George Genakos found that 1,232 votes didn't give him much leverage in 1996 or later when he wanted to become mayor.
On any issue, it takes a majority to prevail. No surprise there, but in the city it's hard to overcome the inertia of a routine that keeps the tax rate low and the population happy.
The incumbents and Knudson can form coalitions among themselves and perhaps with Bobby Braxton to effect any particular change. Mayor Jeanne Zeidler is herself adroit at coalitions and can read a trend. She, of all people, would have to get on board for a bold tourism initiative.
The new/old City Council will have an opportunity to make tourism Job 1. Standing pat and hoping for a buzz from Jamestown's 400th a year later is hardly a strategy.
Some ideas to consider:
- Reach out to daytrippers at Busch Gardens to tour Colonial Williamsburg. It's never been done.
- Add a penny to the tax rate for the sole purpose of leveraging existing marketing or promoting unique events aimed at daytrippers.
- Develop greater cooperation with James City and York beyond the WADMC commercials.
- Boost the city's advertising contribution to Colonial Williamsburg, but require genuine data sharing.
- Study carefully the forthcoming findings by the Chamber Alliance on tourism trends to focus on timeshare traffic. It's the next frontier.
- Encourage William & Mary to let the Dillard Complex house J-1 visa students until the administration tears the dorms down.
- Hit the ground running now to home in on the fall shoulder season. It's never to late to boost attendance.
Copyright © 2008, The Virginia Gazette
