Bobby Dyer leads

As mayor, I often proudly proclaimed Virginia Beach was “the greatest city in the world.” lt was truly how I felt then and still do today. The challenges our city has faced since I left office could not have been foreseen or imagined, but we have weathered these storms and persevered with current leadership guiding the way forward.

Our AAA bond rating speaks to strong fiscal management policies we continue to employ. Virginia Beach City Public Schools continue to meet and exceed benchmarks for full accreditation, and it is one of the premier school systems in the nation. We are still one of the safest cities our size in America, thanks to strong support from Mayor Bobby Dyer for our public safety personnel. Our ties with the military, one of the foundations of our economy, remain strong. When the coronavirus pandemic caused the governor to close our beaches in late March, Dyer was able to put in place a plan to reopen them for the summer, and the governor deemed it a model for other beach resorts. Ultimately, we, along with Norfolk, ranked No. 1 in hotel occupancy compared to other destinations, bringing much-needed tax revenue to the city.

None of this happens by accident. We are fortunate to have a mayor who understands and protects the fundamentals that make our city a desirable place to live. Dyer doesn’t look at issues through a partisan lens, but at how his decisions will help all citizens of Virginia Beach. l’m proud to support Bobby Dyer for reelection, and l’m happy to be able to say that even after all of the adversity we have faced, Virginia Beach is still the greatest city in the world.

William D. Sessoms, Virginia Beach