Alumna A Fixture In Political Blogosphere

By Lisa Snowdy

There are plenty of well-known political blogs on the Internet. Sites like Politico, Daily Kos and Instapundit draw thousands of readers from each end of the political spectrum and everywhere in between.

After losing the 2005 election for Norfolk city treasurer, Vivian Paige ’81 (M.B.A. ’84) launched her own blog that, according to her, is “my way of staying in touch with those who supported me and reaching out to those who did not.”

Since its inception, Paige’s blog boasts more than half a million hits. Although local politics are the primary focus, she doesn’t miss an opportunity to talk about wider issues. “You can’t talk about Norfolk in a vacuum, so sprinkled in are some regional, state and national politics,” she said.

A Democrat, Paige says she tries to be even-handed. “I will call out Democrats when they need to be called out and praise Republicans when they have a good idea.”

Paige thinks blogs are often better positioned than the traditional media to discuss issues in-depth. “I like to cover issues I feel aren’t being covered elsewhere,” she said. “I have a section in the blog called ‘Did You Know?’ that discusses ongoing issues that affect Virginia and Norfolk in particular.”

Her target audience, however, is not the politicos and policy wonks. “I want the average Joe to read the blog rather than the elected people who are trying to find out what bloggers are saying about them.”

Asked if her passion for politics will lure her into running for office again, Paige, who was a pledged delegate to the Democratic National Convention, says with a laugh, “Ask me again in December after the presidential election.”

Paige, who earned both of her Old Dominion degrees in business administration, also serves as an adjunct instructor of accounting at her alma mater. She is a CPA and has been practicing in her own firm since 1986. She served in the U.S. Army Reserves and worked for the IRS for six years.