Posted: May 7, 2010

BY BILL CRESENZO

bill.cresenzo@insidebiz.com

Newport News' newly elected mayor says that while the city needs to aggressively recruit new large industries to the area, it also needs to pay special attention to small business, what he called the "backbone" of the city's economy.

McKinley Price defeated City Councilwoman Pat Woodbury to capture the seat. Price received 12,539 votes to Woodbury's 8,596. Price replaces Joe Frank, who served as mayor for 14 years.

"First of all, Mayor Frank has done a very good job in creating a climate where business is appreciated and wanted," Price said. "We need to keep a balance between the larger businesses that are coming in and cultivating the smaller businesses. The mom-and-pop businesses are the backbone of economic development."

Price is a native of Newport News and works as a dentist. He is the city's first elected black mayor, and he was the first black president of the Peninsula Dental Society. He has served on the Newport News City Council and the Newport News Public Schools Board. Price was endorsed by the Virginia Peninsula Association of Realtors and United Steelworkers Local 8888. He also serves on the Virginia Economic Development Partnership Board.

Price said one of the biggest challenges Newport News businesses face is traffic congestion.

"No one wants to come here and spend three hours every day in traffic," he said.

Price said he hopes to promote cooperation among Hampton Roads towns and cities.

"We need to make sure that we continue to have a regional outlook in business so there is not so much fighting between localities," he said. "We need to make sure we are receptive to business coming in and doing well."

Price said the city has several major projects in the works, including the $350 million Areva plant project, where nuclear power components will be produced; the expansion of Canon, which will create up to 1,000 jobs; and the expansion of Jefferson Lab.

Newport News needs to work to retain young people, Price said. He points to a Newport News Public Schools program that offers job training and internships to high school students.

"We are going to try and grow jobs here and keep the tax base as low as we can," he said, "and make this a place where people want to come and live and raise a family." nib