so there is an election coming up…

John, “Weird”? Really, that is the best you can do?

I agree with Q of CH about Robert Grey and his mother. The meeting at Peter-Paul last night was informative, but unfortuately, not well attended. Gwen was taking bribes to vote for Pantele for mayor back when City Council elected the mayor. Wasn’t there some issue with Dwight Jones about campaign contributions as well as some personal life issues? Neither one was very “pastoral” as I remember.

For anyone who is interested, or thinks it matters, Dwight Jones is supported by Delores McQuinn and Henry Marsh.

Robert Grey is tall. We should elect him because of that.

Just kidding. He has the most electable character, aside from Williams who just doesnt have the experience, but has the right ‘design sense.’

I’ve been assured by several people that Dwight Jones is a shoe in. He, unfortunilty is a minister

Personal Information
Born: , Philadelphia, PA, February 3, 1948
Gender: M
Race: AA
Religion: Baptist
Education: Virginia Union University (B.A., Sociology, 1970, School of Theology, M.Div., 1973)
United Theological Seminary, OH (D.Min.)
Virginia Colleges and Universities:
Virginia Union University
Occupation/Profession: Minister
Membership & Affiliation: Baptist Church
Richmond City School Board (former chairman)
Richmond Renaissance (executive committee and board of directors)
South Richmond Senior Center (cofounder)
National Baptist Convention (board of directors and secretary of Commission on Housing)
National Council of Churches (governing board)
Metro Richmond Convention and Visitors Bureau (board of directors)
Children: Dwight Brenton, Derik Elton, and Nichole Dannielle

The minister thing is what scares me the most…I’ve had to deal with minister types and their congregations in RPS -it was like mob rules. One substitute came into class telling the children that if they didn’t go to church they would end up in jail. It didn’t occur to him that there might be a child in class of different religious beliefs. Over at Cary, the staff allowed my child to be harrassed by classmates and staff because she liked Halloween. Things became so rough, at one point, a fellow parent and I had to tell our children not to talk about Halloween so much. I’ve seen a prayer hanging in a school bathroom, I’ve had to listen to a preacher on the radio in a school office…There is absolutely no regard for law -the separation of Church and State is unheard of in some RPS. Now Dwight Jones hopefully/probably is different and would uphold the law but what if a citizen had a complaint about religion being pushed in a school, would he stick up for his congregation or for the individual whose rights were violated?

Gray, although obviously not knowing your background and with all respect, your concern could be rooted in a basic cultural difference. In the African American community, the church has long played an integral role in empowering blacks not just in the spiritual sphere of life but also in the public realm of society. Remember that King was first and foremost a minister, and some might say that his condemnation of segregation as a moral and spiritual evil was crossing the boundaries between church and state, if that boundary is interpreted too rigidly and literally. Ministers have long played a prophetic and public role in the black community, and the line between private spiritual life and pubic reality is not nearly as fixed as it has been in the white community.

Gray,
Thank you for giving me the benefit of the doubt on answering questions important to the East End and City-wide.
I am committed to serving my constituents if elected. My voting record on the School Board (if elected) will reflect the desire of my constituents. I am running to serve. Call me at 804-339-0745 and let’s talk. I am humbled by people like yourself who are willing to be engaged in the process of holding candidates and public officials accountable. Unity in the Community!

Did someone already mention if Grey was also a religious militant? I know Jones is one and our district representative, too.

Jones’ church invited a Muslim speaker? Big deal. But what would Jones think if his daughter wanted to marry one. Now that would be more telling of his tolerance.

Gray, my comment wasn’t necessarily to you personally. I was calling out the fact that inviting a Muslim to speak at a church was a bullshit PR move on the part of the church.

These Christian extremists need to keep their religion to themselves and focus on the real issues. I’m not the only one who thinks that using religious symbolism in a political campaign is just a distraction from issues that may not make them look so holy.

It is my thought that those speaking of a person’s ability to lead and their personal convictions should be clear on the two and speak to them individually. Rev. Dr. Dwight Jones is more than just a Reverend, which is his calling from the Lord. He has taken that mandate from the Lord and recognized that he has talents that extend beyond the pulpit. His public service record is laced with great accomplishments for his constituents and if this were not the case, how fortunate for us that we live in a society to allows us to periodically make changes in our political leadership in order to ensure that we have the best possible representation. Rev. Jones’ ability to be Mayor is clear, he is more than capable of representing the constituents of this City, whether or not those constituents make him their choice remains to be seen, but please be clear he can and will lead while being a Child of God, for which he nor any other Christian in politics needs to apologize for. He can and continues to lead, as does EVERY other politician, by the core set of principles that drive him to be the man that he is. Being a Reverend has not lead him to neglect the needs of his constituency in the past and I have no reason to believe that being Mayor would change that commitment. In addition, being a Christian is a part of a persons being. Why do Christians need to or should they have to apologize to those who may not have any belief system. I am a Christian woman and I don’t impose my belief system on anyone, but I will not bow down because someone else does not believe.

In terms of his so called invitation to a Muslim to speak at his Church, please understand the circumstance and issues of which you speak of. First and foremost that speaking engagement was set to happen in the Imani Center, which is attached to the Church but not part of the Church. That facility is often rented out for events, both of political and non-political affiliation. Rev. Jones was not even in town when the speech took place nor was it supposed to happen in the actual church. However, being tolerant of other religious views, whether or not you believe in those views, is being open-minded and steadfast in one’s own beliefs, which is what Dwight Jones has always strived to do.

In response to the allegation that Rev. Jones would take issue with his daughter marrying a Muslim – how would or could you possibly know? Do you know her? Do you know him personally? These are issues that have no bearing on his ability to lead this City effectively and really have no bearing in Public office on any level.

Rev. Jones, like all of us has many faults. He has undoubtedly made many mistakes in both his personal and professional lives. But that is what human frailty is about – imperfection. The question before the voters of Richmond is whether or not he has the ability to lead and if and when he does, will he be an effective leader? Guess we will find out in November.

HB225: Payday loans; use of Internet database for borrowers, rollovers prohibited by lenders.
Summary
Payday lending; rollovers; database. Requires the State Corporation Commission on or before July 1, 2007, to contract with a third party to establish and administer a database with real-time access through an Internet connection to ensure compliance with the Payday Loan Act. The measure also prohibits payday lenders from entering into a payday loan with a person who has an outstanding payday loan with that licensee or affiliate or with any other payday lender, or with a person whose previous payday loan has been terminated for less than 30 days, and from extending or continuing a payday loan where the lender continues to hold the borrower’s check or substitutes a new check.

HB227: Domestic violence; confidentiality of records.
Domestic violence; confidentiality of records. Requires the Director of the Department of Social Services to work with the Statewide Domestic Violence Coalition to develop policies and implement methods to assure the confidentiality of records pertaining to the address or location of any shelter or facility assisted under the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act, 42 U.S.C. § 10401 et seq.

HB1228: Office of Small Business Advocacy; created.
Department of Business Assistance; Office of Small Business Advocacy. Creates the Office of Small Business Advocacy within the Department of Business Assistance. The bill sets out the powers and duties of the Office. The bill defines small business as a business entity, including its affiliates, located in Virginia that (i) is independently owned and operated and (ii) employs fewer than 500 full-time employees or has gross annual sales of less than $6 million.

HB1230: Tattooing or body piercing of minors; penalty
Summary
Tattooing or body piercing; penalty. Increases the penalty for tattooing or body piercing minors without parental consent or without medical supervision and for tattooing or body piercing without complying with health and safety requirements and disclosure provisions from a Class 2 misdemeanor to a Class 1 misdemeanor. The criminal provisions will apply only to someone who performs such services for hire or consideration. Currently the Class 1 misdemeanor applies only to a second violation of the statute.

HJ467: Celebrating the lives of the Harvey family.

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 467
Offered March 6, 2006
Celebrating the lives of the Harvey family.
———-
Patron– Jones, D.C. and McClellan
———-
WHEREAS, the Harveys, Kathryn and Bryan, and their two beautiful daughters, Stella and Ruby, are remembered as a loving and giving family who touched the lives of every resident of the Richmond community; and

WHEREAS, Kathryn Harvey was the co-owner of the World of Mirth, a quaint and popular Carytown gift shop; and

WHEREAS, Kathryn Harvey was a joyful, dynamic woman and a loving and committed wife and mother; she is described by those who knew her well as the dearest and most loyal friend, daughter, and sister one could ever have; and

WHEREAS, Bryan Harvey was a gifted musician, who played guitar and bass and was well-known as a member of the acclaimed band, House of Freaks; and

WHEREAS, Bryan Harvey passionately loved his family, music and life; he is described by those who knew him well as a faithful and loving husband and father and a man you could always depend on if you needed him; and

WHEREAS, the Harvey girls, Stella and Ruby, were sweet, sensitive children, who loved school, playing with their friends and toys and being mischievous; and

WHEREAS, the Harvey family, Kathryn, Bryan, Stella and Ruby, will long remain in the hearts of the citizens of the City of Richmond and the Commonwealth; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby mourn the tragic loss of a wonderful Virginia family, the Harveys; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the loved ones of the Harvey family as an expression of the General Assembly’s great respect for the memory of Kathryn, Bryan, Stella and Ruby.

HB2509: College Partnership Laboratory School Fund; created.
Summary
College Partnership Laboratory Schools. Establishes college partnership laboratory schools for the purpose of stimulating the development of innovative public education programs by providing opportunities for greater cooperation and coordination between institutions of higher education and K-12 education systems. The laboratory schools are created by a contract between the school and the Board of Education and operate much like public charter schools.

HB2510: Provisional driver’s licenses; restriction on using cellular phones and wireless devices.
Summary
Provisional driver’s licenses; restriction on using cellular phones and wireless devices. Places a restriction on persons with provisional driver’s license from using a cellular phone or other wireless device while driving on the highways of the Commonwealth. The bill also removes a subsection that makes offenses in the rest of the section secondary offenses, which would make all offenses in this section primary offenses.

HB2513: Higher educatuonal institutions; to promote certain principles into freshman orientation process.
Summary
Economic education and financial literacy programs at institutions of higher education. Provides that each public two- and four-year institution of higher education must require all first-time entering freshmen to complete a one-hour lecture course on the principles of economics education and financial literacy. The institution may incorporate the course into the orientation process for new students, an existing general education or relevant prerequisite course, or other appropriate venue. The bill expands the subjects that may be covered in such programs to include savings and investments, predatory lending practices and interest rates, consumer fraud, and identity theft and protection. Currently, institutions of higher education are required to make provision to promote the development of student life skills in the areas of economic education and financial literacy through existing general education courses, the freshman orientation process, or another appropriate venue.

HB1007: Fusion Intelligence Center; confidentiality and immunity from service of process.
Summary
Virginia Fusion Intelligence Center; confidentiality; immunity. Provides that papers, evidence, information, etc., and databases or other information in the possession of the State Police are confidential and not subject to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act or the Government Data Collections and Disseminations Practices Act. The bill also provides that employees of the Department are not subject to subpoena in any civil action concerning criminal intelligence information or terrorism investigation. The bill restricts the release or dissemination of information without prior authorization from the Virginia Fusion Intelligence Center and punishes any person who knowingly disseminates information with a Class 1 misdemeanor. If such unauthorized release or dissemination results in death or serious bodily injury, such person is guilty of a Class 4 felony.

These are just a few bills that were either passed or incorporated into bills that were passed into law (just a few)…public servants’ records are public knowledge. As I said before, thank goodness we live in a country that allows us to make changes in representation based upon our satisfaction with the job that they are doing. Being that Rev. Jones
has run unopposed, I think that should give some indication as to what his constituents feel about the job that he has done.

So as to the comment in post #22 – I think that it would great if you would Get Real.

Look, sister, the point I’m making isn’t about his religion necessarily, it’s that he flaunts it by becoming a religious leader, a well used ploy to engender trust and authority among weak minds. It’s a ploy that often used to distract voters from a lifestyle that’s less than holy–and lawful. Think about all of the preachers and ministers and priests who have used their positions to cover up embezzlement, gay sex, child porn, etc.

Aligning oneself with an esteemed historical figure is also a well used propaganda technique. Comparing Jones to MLK is tired, t-i-r-e-d ploy. White politicians love to compare themselves with Kennedy or Jefferson.

Red flags are going up all over the place on this guy, and he’s smelling pretty fishy to me.

What’s his PhD in anyway?

Well Ruth, if you want to make informed points and comparisons about people, be informed about what you speak of. Rev. Dr. Dwight C. Jones was called tohis ministry well before he had any political aspirations. As a matter of fat he is the 4th generations of preachers in his family. What you fail to realize – I must repea- is that in spite of the fact that he has been called to the ministry, he too is subject to the same human frailty as you and I are. And once again, that has no bearing on his ability to govern. In reference to those who have “used” the title or their faith, that is very unfortunate. But that does not speak to the entire population of Reverends, Priests, Bishops, Rabbis, etc. It is ridiculous to link the individual actions of people to an entire group. Not to mention its just plain ignorant. Just because some police officers abuse their mantle of power I don’t automaticallly think that all police officers are corrupt. In terms of MLK and those comparisons, read carefully because its not a comparison that I made, nor would I – speaking of MLK another Rev, rought with human frailty which did not diminish his ability to fight for the causes that he believed in. Nor did those frailties make him an unfit Rev. – they made him human. If you don’t already know Christianity is not about being perfect, that would be why God gives us Grace and Mercy and allows us to work out our imperfections through our salvation.

Now Ruth – as I have said countless times prior – how lucky for you that you have the opportunity to choose the candidate that you will feel represents you world view best – how lucky are we. But cintinuing to question things that you have NO concept of is pointless and is so distracting from real issues. Do you agree with his platform or do you not? You have that choice, make it and leave your speculation about things that you have no concept of, out of it.

To get into his Doctorate of Ministry Degree from and accredited Theological Seminary of National Recognition is a whole new post in itself….

Liberty, you said, “I get tired of politicians, mostly democrats like Rev. Jones whose solutions to problems is to throw more money at them, aka- raise our taxes.”

Isn’t Grey a democrat?

Haven’t the republicans been throwing money at the wealthy for sometime? I wish people had gotten tired of that before electing Bush to a second term and allowing him to crash and burn our country like he did all previous business endeavors before entering politics. See unlike a baseball team, when you bankrupt a country and a world, whose left to bail you out?

You also said, ” I want to keep my hard earned money.”

Good luck with that. Because of the republicans deregulating everything, my hard working relatives have lost 40% of their hard earned savings for retirement and college. My nieces probably won’t be able to borrow money for college tuition this year.

I’m tired of the same old slogans and fears because look at where this stupidy has gotten us. If we’re to survive in this time and age, we need to live by the Golden Rule -get to know your neighbor and care.

After reading Robert Grey’s bio., he definitely has all the makings for the City Mayor. What struck me was his position at the law firm focusing on mediation. That is a prime asset, along with his many other credentials. Just an observation.

Robert Grey is presently named in pleadings in a divorce case because of his “relationship” with a married woman. He is also under subpoena to testify about this relationship at a separate hearing.