Care4Suffolk is a nonpartisan organization and does not endorse any candidate for any public office. We encourage voters to research the candidates for the upcoming local Mayoral and City Council Member elections. We have asked all candidates the same questions regarding land use and rezoning. These questions are based on the topics and issues from participating members. Below are the answers provided by the mayoral candidates, along with their image and website contact, if they chose to provide it.
Early voting is currently underway in Virginia and election day is Tuesday, November 5th. Please go to the Virginia Department of Elections for any questions.
Note: Questionnaires were emailed to all candidates. We did not receive a response from mayoral candidate Clinton Jenkins.
Mayoral Candidates
David Bosselman
Website: https://davidbosselmanformayor.com
Mike Duman
Website: https://mikedumanformayor.com
ROADS
Many narrow country roads have design challenges and water issues, yet are seeing increased traffic due to new development. Should rezoning approval be contingent on either the City or the rezoning applicant being able to improve these roads to meet VDOT and City standards for their classifications?
David Bosselman
Yes. These roads should be fixed before any new development of scale is even started. If the road is not on the City’s list to improve, then the developer should have to make the improvements.
Mike Duman
Most rezonings are conditional and therefore will come with a staff recommendation unique to that application. Included in that recommendation will be a traffic impact analysis. The applicant will be required to make improvements to address the effects of the proposed project. Other proffers could be accepted if they were related to the project. A non-conditional rezoning should not be considered without a comprehensive analysis of existing roads and the effects of any use within the new zoning designation. Consideration must be given to the comprehensive plan and the traffic master plan.
ZONING
1. Residents often buy homes based on existing zoning. Rezoning land can impact residents and their quality of life. What criteria will you use when considering rezoning applications?
2. Currently, NO residential or student pipeline data is included in rezoning Staff Report packets to show already approved developments in the surrounding area. If you are re-elected or elected, what would you do to ensure that Planning Commission and City Council have all pertinent information needed to make fully informed decisions?
David Bosselman
1. When looking at rezoning we should be aware of the current comprehensive plan and its intended long-term use. Then we need to look at what benefit the rezoning will be to the area around it. That MUST include the citizens already living there and the infrastructure in that area. We need to ask if rezoning makes life better or worse for the residents. Does it cause stress on schools, first responders or roadways? We must have a clear and concise vision within the comprehensive plan.
2. Staff should include all pertinent information available for every rezoning request. Council must ask questions about all aspects of rezoning and direct the City Manager to make sure staff provides this information so that a well-informed decision can be made.
Mike Duman
1. All rezonings must consider compatibility with the comprehensive plan, U.D.O. considerations, adequate public facilities; to include, public water and sanitary sewerage, stormwater management, transportation and schools. In addition, a fiscal impact statement and proffered conditions must be considered.
2. I would recommend that an updated “pipe line” report be provided quarterly to all Planning Commission and City Council members. This report will provide all approved development. Active development would include total approved and current status of each project.
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY
The City has decided against conducting a Fiscal Impact Analysis for the 2045 Comprehensive Plan. Instead, it will rely on fiscal impact studies that are paid for by developers as part of rezoning applications and are not required to include the key component of Cost of Services (such as long-term road maintenance, repair, and replacement). If elected or re-elected, how would you ensure that the City is getting a complete financial picture of what development projects will both bring in revenue and cost the taxpayers in services?
David Bosselman
The first thing we need to do is an Impact Analysis of the previous 2035 Comprehensive Plan. We have no idea of its success or failure yet the City is pushing forward with a new comprehensive plan based off of the previous plan. The best I can tell, the 2035 Comp Plan has caused a lot of overdevelopment and congestion in most of Suffolk. This has created a strain on infrastructure and the amenities that the citizens need including schools. In following this path of constant development, the city has felt the need for more commercial development and higher taxes to accommodate its needs. The City has to look at where it has been in order to see where it is going.
Mike Duman
A fiscal impact statement is included with each CUP or rezoning. The fiscal impact statement should be reviewed thoroughly by staff before providing any recommendations. If a fiscal impact study is not incorporated into the comprehensive plan, I would support a requirement for a more extensive study on all applications considered “significant” as determined by current guidelines. Regardless, at a minimum, I will promote a change in policy that will require applications to complete a fiscal impact analysis to include content as requested and in a format provided by the city, not the applicant.
TRANSPARENCY
1. Do you think council members should recuse themselves from rezoning requests if the developer requesting the rezoning has contributed to their election campaign?
2. Would you be willing to disclose all property and land that you own in the city of Suffolk, whether it is owned in your own name, a partnership, or an LLC?
David Bosselman
1.Absolutely. Our Council Members should be doing what is right for the citizens of Suffolk. There must be honor and integrity on our Council.
2. Absolutely. My wife Audrey Page and I own the farm we live on which is 140 acres. We also own a second farm that has 234 acres where our son Brian and his family live. My son Hunter and his family live on a 160-acre farm owned by my wife, my two sons, and myself. My sons and I have recently purchased a 48-acre farm that is split between Suffolk and Isle of Wight County.
Mike Duman
1. Council members are required to recuse themselves if there is a conflict of interest. Virginia’s State and Local Conflict of Interests Act (COIA) regulates the conduct of state and local government employees and officials to prevent conflict of interest. I believe if a council member is adhering to COIA guide lines there should be no requirement to abstain from voting. However, if there is an appearance of an impropriety it may be prudent to do so.
2. There would be no need to disclose all properties owned individually or by any other vested entity if it did not create a conflict of interest or an appearance of an impropriety. In addition, all elected officials are required to file a Statement of Economic Interests (SOEI) which is public record.
John Rector should never vote an any residential development or rezoning request. As a Realtor, he stands to have financial gain from the continued development of Suffolk. I have not seen him recuse himself from the continued rezoning requests from developers as he should.
Duman seems to be most interested in being beholden to the Port. Suffolk should not have the quality of life for its residents impacted, as they are now, by the continued pressure the Port is putting on the surrounding communities. Additional rail vs trucks should be the answer.
Bosselman’s responses are much more thoughtful and citizen driven. I appreciate him stepping up to run for mayor. We need someone who actually cares about the citizens. My vote is for Bosselman.