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at this moment…
05/16/2008 5:07 PM by John M
RPS Superintendent Jewell-Sherman has tendered her resignation. Chief Monroe is leaving. Mayor Wilder will not run for reelection. … Anybody asked Director Creecy if he’s sticking around?
My Dear Richmonders,
Don’t fret over the “loss” of Dougie. He failed every project took on; the school system, losing the Braves, and wasting our tax money on the “Art Centerâ€. When it is all said and done, the only things he cared about was what would profit him personally or professionally.
I don’t feel sorry for any of his backers. Sorry, Reggie Malone and Keith West – you backed the wrong horse, much like Eight Bells, who came in dead second.
I tend to agree, at least on the Arts Center score.
When are we going to get a Green Mayor?
http://www.vagreenparty.org/richblog/?p=4
Can a guy who just lost a council race (Goldman) win as Mayor? And if so, what does that say about the political qualifications for Mayor? I would not hang my hat on Goldman, the guy does not exude electability. Cities with sizable African American populaces have seemed to find a recent compromise between white elites who make up the city’s tax base and African American residents who make up the brunt of the voters, it is the educated, mildly progressive but fiscally responsible African American candidate. After surveying council, I do not think there any suitable candidates there, and the qualified, African American administrative staff of the city left in droves under Wilder’s reign of terror. My only guess is someone like Mike Herring. Whether he wants this job so early in his career trajectory is another matter. So, if I were a Green, I would be doing my best to champion a likely winner while trying to imbue progressive and equitable environmental policy and planning sympathies. But, what do I know.
Bob! Glad to see things are quiet in Philly and Richmond is still on your radar.
FYI, The guy who will make this a race worth watching is Robert Grey, Jr.
Go to his bio at the Hunton & Williams website.
Yup, I agree with you UnionHill, Robert Grey, Jr. is the one to watch. Glad to know I’m not the only one who thinks that. I just read today (or yesterday?) that he’s thinking of running, not sure he’s even official yet.
Here is a link to Robert Grey’s bio: http://www.hunton.com/Bios/bio.aspx?id=15881.
Someone representing Health Care and Funeral industries kind of scares me. Does he ever represent human beings? If so, can someone give me examples? Corporate lawyers represent the non person (with the same legal rights as a real human) whose sole aim is making money at all costs.
Richmond.com has a weekly piece introducing the candidates for the mayor’s race: http://www.richmond.com/news-features/
Grey scares me, too, because he is apparently the candidate that Wilder supports.
Check out latest post at SaveRichmond.com on Grey’s sketchy public service.
Also, this from Goldman:
At the 2PM Press Conference, 9th entrance to City Hall, I will be discussing, as my Press Advisory stated, the possible ramifications of Elected School Board related VA Code Statute 22.1-57.4 copied below, given (1) Mr. Robert Grey’s previous confrontational effort to try and abolish the right of the people to elect the School Board, (2) his recent statements, and (3) given how, if elected, he could use the power, prestige and money-raising ability of the next Mayor to use 22.1-57.4 to abolish the elected school board in a low-vote election relative to the one we are having to pick the elected school board this November.” ”
———————
§ 22.1-57.4. Referendum to revert to appointment of the school board.
A. By the same procedure and under the same requirements as provided in § 22.1-57.2, the registered voters of any county, city, or town which selects members of the school board by direct election of the voters may petition for, and the circuit court shall so order, a referendum on the question of changing from direct election of the school board to appointment of school board members by the governing body or, if the petition so states in the case of a county, by a school board selection commission. The question on the ballot shall be:
“Shall the method of selecting the school board be changed from direct election by the voters to appointment by the governing body (or, if the petition in a county so requests, a school board selection commission)?
_ YES
_ NO”
B. If a majority of the qualified voters voting in such referendum vote in favor of changing the method of selecting school board members to appointment by the governing body or by a school board selection commission, as the case may be, the terms of the school board members in office through direct election shall terminate on June 30 following the referendum. A school board selection commission shall be appointed pursuant to § 22.1-35 if a majority have voted in the referendum for that selection method. The members of the appointed school board shall be appointed for the terms and in the manner provided in the article of this chapter or the chapter of Title 15.2 applicable to the county, city, or town in which the referendum has been held.
(1992, c. 594.)
I know Robert Grey personally … pretty well even. He is definitely friendly with Wilder, but he is most definitely not the same as Wilder. Robert is a southern gentleman. Polite, dignified and honestly interested in the plight of the poor — all things that are not typicallyy said about Wilder. Robert has certainly taken on some projects (the arts center) and some positions (the school board) that will be used against him, but I urge folks to hear him out on these issues before you make up your minds. He may not change your mind, but I suspect that he’ll be far more honest about his positions than we are used to from our politicians in this city.
I have to take issue with the comment above that characterizes Robert’s public sevice as “sketchy”. It has been exemplary. As President of the American Bar Association, he promoted the Rule of Law worldwide and value of the jury system here at home. He served the state splendidly as Chairman of the ABC Board. He has promoted the City of Richmond and the region through his work with the Chamber of Commerce. And, he has served the community directly through countless hours of pro bono and community service work that doesn’t get headlines. Feel free to take issue with some of the positions he’s taken, but to say that his service has been “sketchy” is hyperbole of the highest order.
I, for one, think Richmonmd would be lucky to have Robert as Mayor, and probably needs someone like Robert to bridge the divide that has grown between the business community and some of the citizenry. But, I hope he doesn’t run. He doesn’t deserve the BS that comes with politics in this town. He’s too nice a guy. Seriously. Why would anyone want to put themselves in the crosshairs like that?
In Saturdays paper it had a rather large article about Wilder not running for election and Grey is who they have picked to replace him.
That tells me right there I shouldn’t vote for him.
1) There is no “right” to elect a school board – it is something the legislature has granted and something the legislatire can take away if the people so choose through referendum. The effects of the politicization of elected school boards is certainly something that is still open to debate, regardless of Goldman’s opinion. If someone else holds the opinion that school boards should be appointed, that is a fair opinion to have.
2) The “whomever Wilder or the RTD are for, I’m against” attitude is a closed-minded attitude.
If this website’s comments sections are a litmus test, Church Hill is getting worse than the Fan in terms of its culture of entrenched and reflexively contrary neighbors.
Wilder has caused so much harm to our city. I believe the residents of the city have good reason to distrust anyone that Wilder endorses. You may disagree, but I am learning I must trust my instincts on this one.
I’ve known Bob Grey for a number of years, going back to the early 80’s and he is the most rational, civic-minded person I’ve known in Richmond for years. He would be a great candidate for Mayor, and would be a great asset to the government. Why he would leave the peace and quiet of a law career to get into the swamp that City Hall is currently becoming is beyond me. The real issue is to see the exodus of Harry Black and the gang that Wilder brought in to rape the city.
regarding post #10, I’m going to hear from all the candidates before deciding where I’ll lend all my support. I want the next mayor to represent the people, not big business and corporations, and to have input and ideas on how to improve and work with RPS. A corrupt school system will chase more middle class families out of town than a development or lack of one. Besides the best and most interesting areas of town are developed and built upon by residents like in Church Hill and by small business owners like in Carytown, or on the Broad St. Art Walk. I want the next mayor to support small business, historic preservation, and bring equal oportunity to the poor. I guess I’m dreaming….
Mr Hartsock, lets not be ridiculous. Grey and Black worked together to push through the Center Stage/ downtown arts center travesty.
From an old Goldman press release:
Harry Black is telling the public the lease is with a for-profit entity, we now learn as part of the “deal” the city is going to be putting up perhaps $500,000 a year to help cover ….losses?….
Bottom line: The more people feel is hidden, the more suspicions will grow. In that regard, I think of those mentioned by the pundits as potential mayoral candidates involved in the Arts Center maneuverings – lawyer Robert Grey, Council President Bill Pantele, and Councilman Bruce Tyler – the novice of the group, Mr. Tyler, seems to have understood the politics the best.
He raised questions the rest of the people on Council did not. With all due respect to Mrs. Robertson, for example, her criticisms against Mr. Black for mismanagement and secret manuverings lose a lot of crediblity by her refusing to recuse herself on the Arts Center vote. The same for Mr. Pantele.
Scott, I just looked at your link on post #2. Goldman is looking better all the time.
Look, Richmond is still a small town and everyone is friends or has some connection with someone running for mayor. What I will ask of Richmonders is to forget who you are in acquaintance with for just a moment and think of who will do the best for the greater good of all of Richmond and beyond. Support and vote for the greater good.
Does anyone have additional information on Lawrence Williams? I just read his bio on that richmond.com link, but I’d like to know more about him. He seems like a really interesting candidate, and I like his idea of “Richmond Fast Forward.”
Bringing up lost causes per the Arts Center and other related projects… what is going on with all of that now? I see Miller & Rhodes is getting done but is not anything like it was originally planned concept to be a grand looking building with facade replication on all sides of the building. Now they are fudging and bricking up the sides torn down rather than making them intricate… cheap!!! And now the old hotel/government build was town down making way for a new high rise there, when is it going to happen? Wasn’t it said it would not be torn down without the new one being started immediately?
And the Arts Center???? What is going on with that land now we tore down landmark buildings to make way for it?
Will who ever takes over complete these projects rather than making a bunch of useless ground level parking lots?
Eric
Magneto, Here is the direct link to Lawrence Williams bio: http://www.richmond.com/print.aspx?articleId=24155 . I don’t know much about him myself…didn’t he run for mayor in the last race? I think he was at the polls on 25th St. shaking hands.
Thanks, Gray. I’ve actually been to that link which was pretty helpful, but I was hoping people might have other sources/info on him. At this point, I’m leaning towards voting for him.
I haven’t heard any buzz about this guy yet (Lawrence Williams) http://www.richmond.com/news-features/24155
Does anybody know anything about him?
Oops. I see that your link does go to Lawrence, Gray. Sorry, somehow I misread that and thought the link went elsewhere.
Also check out the link on Scott’s post #2 on Paul Goldman and the on going discussion regarding candidates on Carver & Jackson Ward News. Several folk on that blog have given information on Goldman and Pantele. When it comes to local politics outside of RPS, I’ve kind of been out of the loop.
An endorsement from Governor Tim Kaine will definitely influence my decision. I like our governor.
Scott,
You seem to be a one issue person-the Performing Arts Center. Let’s look beyond that debacle and see what is of importance to the community and who the best leader will be.
I must admit that I dont agree with the agressive manner of information delivery that “Dougie” insists on using and am aware of some, probably not all, of the “raping of the city” that is repeatedly referenced. As devil’s advocate, I am compelled to remember the several city council persons JAILED for their misconduct soon after Wilder’s initiation. There was the gentleman who turned in $5K of expense receipts for a trip to Jamaica with his secretary. The lady who authorized $100K+ payment to a “contractor” who never performed the work. Turned out she was part owner of the contracting business. She went on a hunger strike… The school board sued saying the city owed them for “americans with disabilities act improvments” to which it was found that the city paid the sum more than once (oops) and the school board could not account for where the money went (oops again). Wilder had to sue the school board to have an independent audit to find they were spending money any way they pleased rather than as directed by the mandates that provided the funds. (Wonder why they wouldn’t just agree to an independent audit?) The city is infested with opportunists and those who are not willing to expose them (where were these felons counterparts? My guess is passing out gas cards to their friends) So, it is not just Doug Wilder that is the problem here. I would be in favor of wiping the slate clean. Start over with fresh faces that dont yet know how to work the system, that are not part of the “good ol boys and gals system” and who have a basic knowledge of accounting and accountability. OUT WITH THE BUMS, ALL OF THEM!
Scott,
On the preforming arts center, Pantele supported and voted for it, Goldman came up with the plan that funded it, Grey co-chaired the group that approved Goldman’s plan, and Jones said absolutely nothing about it but is supported by 2 of the plans premier proponents, Council members Robertson and McQuinn.
So who is the lesser of all evils in your view?
Lenore,
I believe most of the items you have listed occured before Doug was elected; in fact, I believe many people voted for Doug hoping he would get rid of the crooks in the city council.
Too bad it didn’t work out that way.
I dont think so…
The post #’s must of changed because on my post 14, I refer to the wrong number.
Archie, thank you for the info on Grey. I didn’t say he was sketchy…basically I wanted to know more about him besides his corporate law resume.
http://floricane.typepad.com/buttermilk/2008/05/richmonds-next.html
I’m still leaning towards Goldman, although I want to learn a little more and I’m hoping Kaine will endorse someone. With 6 or more candidates I’m starting to feel like an Italian at election time.
Goldman came up with the original City of the Future funding plan, which was supposed to pay for new and renovated schools, a new jail, and the arts center. Should I blame him that only the arts center has gotten underway? Perhaps, but I do think Pantele and others had a better chance of changing things and failed to do so. Grey is simply another corporate tool, like Calvin Jamison.
I have had some earnest conversations with Goldman about the matter.
Regardless, the next Mayor will have to deal with the messy aftermath of the white elephant arts center. The opportunity costs are growing bigger and bigger.
So, Scott Burgeer … who is the Green Party endorsing? Perhaps you should inform the good folks here what position you hold, so that they can put your rhetoric in context.
Goldman has always been the guy w/the big idea and the sheer grit to get the job done. He has my vote!
Anyone who tries to portray Goldman as a long-shot needs to remember that he is the guy who helped Wilder get elected to state-wide office.
Wilder’s biggest mistake was to lose Paul. “With no vision, a people will perish …”
With no Goldman, a Wilder spins out of control and over-the-top! I would love to see our city elect Goldman …..
GetRealRichmond, check out another debate on candidates for mayor here http://cjwn.net/2008/05/09/pantele-for-mayor/ . Good to see your rooting for Goldman.
All this Goldman talk shows how fundamentally out of touch the pro-Goldman posters are with people on the street (or across the street or down the street) in this neighborhood.
Hey neighbor, there are six or more candidates running for mayor…no matter which one you choose you’ll be out of touch with the neighborhood. And in this election there are several good candidates so I’m guessing many won’t make the decision until they’re in the poll booth.