Council drafts motion on Blackberry

PORTSMOUTH, Va. - Portsmouth City Council members felt Mayor James Holley's public apology Tuesday night was a sorry excuse for an apology. So, Vice Mayor Bill Moody says he began drafting a motion on his Blackberry in the middle of the meeting, requesting the mayor retire immediately.

"Each of us has a Blackberry and we kind of communicated with each other, during and after the mayor's statement," said Moody. Moody said he quietly sent the draft of the motion to other council members during the public meeting and they texted back their approval of the motion.

While the motion passed 6-1, it carries no legal power, it is more a vote of "no confidence" in the mayor.

The mayor, the only "no" vote on the motion, said he will not resign from office.

"I'm telling you, that you put me here, so when I leave here you will take me from here, it will not be from resignation," said Mayor Holley.

The only power left to remove the mayor from office lies with the voters. It would take a formal recall. At last check with the Portsmouth Registrar, noone has filed a formal recall petition.