Suffolk News-Herald

Several names are being circulated as possibilities to complete the unexpired term of Suffolk City Councilman E. Dana Dickens III.

Dickens, in the middle of his second term, stepped down Tuesday, following his appointment as the new president and chief executive officer of Hampton Roads Partnership on Friday.

&uot;I’ve been notified of five people whose names have been submitted as having an interest in the seat,&uot; said Mayor Bobby L. Ralph.

Neither he nor other council members would identify those specific people.

However, prospective candidates being discussed in the community include former City Manager Myles E. Standish, Planning Commissioner Joseph Barlow, Portsmouth attorney Ira Steingold, local accountant Frank A. Spady III and Caroline Martin, a retired executive with Riverside Health System.

Three potential candidates acknowledged their interest.

&uot;I’m definitely interested in it,&uot; Barlow said. &uot;I want to be considered.&uot;

Martin said a couple of people have asked if she would be interested.

&uot;I haven’t ruled out the possibility,&uot; she said.

Standish refused to comment about the seat, only saying that he hates losing Dickens as his council representative.

While council members would not discuss potential appointees, several said they are looking for someone who is familiar with the issues before city lawmakers today.

&uot;We want someone who is pretty up-to-date on issues and what is going on in the city,&uot; said Councilman Calvin Jones. &uot;Somebody has got to be able to come in prepared, … and ready to hit the ground running.&uot;

Vice Mayor Leroy Bennett agreed.

&uot;I want a person who will come in and continue to work the plan in place to move the city forward and keep things intact,&uot; he said.

&uot;I definitely want someone who is a team player …but who will think for himself, and not be influenced by other council members or the city manager.&uot;