Meyera E. Oberndorf
Encyclopedia
Meyera E. Oberndorf was the 23rd mayor
of Virginia Beach, Virginia
. She was Virginia Beach's longest serving mayor, and she previously served as the city's vice mayor. She was the city's first female mayor and was the first woman elected to public office in the more than 300-year history of Virginia Beach or its predecessor, Princess Anne County. She is also a breast cancer
survivor.
Though she was Virginia Beach's first directly elected Mayor, her role was primarily to serve as the chair during City Council
meetings, of which she has been a member since 1976, and to officiate at a wide array of ceremonial functions. This is because Virginia Beach has a council-manager form of government.
In April 2007, Oberndorf was criticized by Fox News Channel
commentator Bill O'Reilly
. O'Reilly claimed she mishandled a situation involving illegal immigrant Alfredo Ramos, who was accused and later convicted of causing a fatal drunk driving accident on March 30, 2007. O'Reilly said that Virginia Beach should have deported the immigrant once they realized he was in the country illegally, since he had prior alcohol-related convictions, including DUI
and public drunkenness. However, Virginia Beach didn't learn of the immigrant's status until after the accident.
On November 5, 2008, Oberndorf was defeated by Will Sessoms, ending her two decade run as mayor. On December 10, 2008, before her term expired, the city council unanimously voted to rename the city's Central Library
the Meyera E. Oberndorf Central Library. Since leaving her position as mayor, Oberndorf appeared in a series of commercials for ABNB Federal Credit Union in 2009. She was appointed to the Virginia State Library Board in 2009 by Gov. Tim Kaine
.
Virginia Beach is the largest populated city in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia Beach is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay...
. She was Virginia Beach's longest serving mayor, and she previously served as the city's vice mayor. She was the city's first female mayor and was the first woman elected to public office in the more than 300-year history of Virginia Beach or its predecessor, Princess Anne County. She is also a breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
survivor.
Though she was Virginia Beach's first directly elected Mayor, her role was primarily to serve as the chair during City Council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
meetings, of which she has been a member since 1976, and to officiate at a wide array of ceremonial functions. This is because Virginia Beach has a council-manager form of government.
In April 2007, Oberndorf was criticized by Fox News Channel
Fox News Channel
Fox News Channel , often called Fox News, is a cable and satellite television news channel owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a subsidiary of News Corporation...
commentator Bill O'Reilly
Bill O'Reilly (commentator)
William James "Bill" O'Reilly, Jr. is an American television host, author, syndicated columnist and political commentator. He is the host of the political commentary program The O'Reilly Factor on the Fox News Channel, which is the most watched cable news television program on American television...
. O'Reilly claimed she mishandled a situation involving illegal immigrant Alfredo Ramos, who was accused and later convicted of causing a fatal drunk driving accident on March 30, 2007. O'Reilly said that Virginia Beach should have deported the immigrant once they realized he was in the country illegally, since he had prior alcohol-related convictions, including DUI
DUI
DUI is a three letter acronym that may stand for:* Driving under the influence * Democratic Union for Integration — the largest ethnic Albanian party in the Republic of Macedonia* Data Use Identifier...
and public drunkenness. However, Virginia Beach didn't learn of the immigrant's status until after the accident.
On November 5, 2008, Oberndorf was defeated by Will Sessoms, ending her two decade run as mayor. On December 10, 2008, before her term expired, the city council unanimously voted to rename the city's Central Library
Virginia Beach Public Library System
-External links:********...
the Meyera E. Oberndorf Central Library. Since leaving her position as mayor, Oberndorf appeared in a series of commercials for ABNB Federal Credit Union in 2009. She was appointed to the Virginia State Library Board in 2009 by Gov. Tim Kaine
Tim Kaine
Timothy Michael "Tim" Kaine is a Virginia politician. Kaine served as the 70th Governor of Virginia from 2006 to 2010, and was the chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 2009 to 2011...
.
Virginia Beach is the largest populated city in the Commonwealth of Virginia.