Mayor Holley did not resign by deadline

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) - Mayor James Holley refused to resign from office Friday despite a voters' petition and a judge's order to vacate his post by 5 p.m.

WAVY.com caught up with Mayor Holley Friday just a few hours before the deadline as he hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new salon on High Street.  He said, "This business is opening because they like my being mayor." 

WAVY.com's Mary Kay Mallonee asked him if he intended to turn in his resignation by 5 p.m. and Holley said, "Well, I don't have a resignation to turn in so to me that would be obvious that I don't plan to turn one in." 

Holley told the small crowd gathered for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, "Those who do not understand that we come together as a family... we are going to let them know that we ain't dead!  We are alive!"

A group of citizens first called for Holley's resignation in September 2009 after it was revealed that Holley had been ordering his city secretary to handle his personal errands. City Council publicly scolded Holley, fined him $2,500 and formally voted to request his retirement.

The citizens collected signatures, and on May 27, a judge ruled they had submitted enough. The judge said that Holley had until close of business on June 4 to resign or he will have to go through a recall election on July 13.

The entire election process could cost Portsmouth taxpayers between $60,000 and $120,000.  Mayor Holley said that is not his fault. 

"Well, I didn't create it.  All you have to do is leave me alone and let me be the mayor. You don't have to have an election. I haven't been that bad," said Mayor Holley.

The Voter Registrar in Portsmouth will now immediately begin scrambling to put together the recall election on July 13.