Hate Mail Controversy : Black Mayor in Virginia Defeated on Recall Ballot

Mayor James Holley III, the city’s first black mayor, who was accused of sending hate mail to community leaders, was ousted from office Tuesday.

Holley, 61, who is serving his second two-year term, was recalled by a vote of 13,438 to 9,861 and seemed to accept his fate calmly.

“You win some elections, and you lose some,” he told about 100 supporters.

Holley won only 12 of 30 precincts in his bid to remain in office. City Registrar Virginia Belli said more than 23,000 of Portsmouth’s 42,280 eligible voters went to the polls.

Eugene Baldwin, an organizer of the oust-Holley campaign, said the outcome of the voting left him with a “satisfied feeling.”

“I think there’s a message to the people, to the future politicians, if they don’t keep their noses clean, the city of Portsmouth will recall,” Baldwin said.

The six members of the City Council now have 60 days to appoint a replacement for Holley and Baldwin said he hoped the council would act quickly.

The recall move against Holley, a dentist and longtime civil rights activist, came after a city prosecutor said he found the mayor’s fingerprints on hate mail sent to community leaders who opposed the closing of a high school. The case is under federal investigation.

Holley has denied any wrongdoing and said earlier Tuesday he was unconcerned about the recall election.

“I’m unemotional about an election, so I have no feelings about it. In fact, it’s just another election for me.”

Greeted Voters

He shook hands with voters at the polls and said he was taking the recall vote in stride.

“What I’ve been doing is making myself visible. I’m going around to all the polling precincts, shaking hands. It’s just typical conduct of a candidate on election day,” said Holley, who wouldn’t predict a finish.

If he lost, Holley said, “this wouldn’t be the end of the world for me. I could give more time to my family. I could give more time to my business, to my church and God.”

Holley has repeatedly denied any part in the hate mail.

“I did not (send the letters),” Holley said. “I categorically deny that and I deplore anyone who did send them.”