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Meet some of the council hopefuls (UPDATED+++)
01/23/2009 6:10 AM by John M
We’ve gotten hold of intro letters from four of the twelve applicants to the vacant council seat:
- Jennie Dotts’ explains herself here.
- Keith West has this letter of explanation and introduction, and has called for “a community forum so that the neighborhood can meet the applicants”.
- Matt Conrad sent in this letter of introduction and answers to the council questionnaire.
- John Gerner describes his qualifications and pledges not to run in the fall.
- Sharon Burton (letter | resume) introduces herself and speaks to preservation, education, public safety, and accountability.
- Carletta Wilson introduces herself and says that ” I understand the need to bridge the gaps within our community” and “while we are a diverse community, we all want the same things”.
To any and all applicants to the vacant City Council 7th District seat, email your letters to murden@gmail.com and I’ll get’em posted.
TAGGED: Carletta Wilson, election, Jennie Dotts, John Gerner, Keith West, Matt Conrad, Sharon Burton
Bravo everyone. Thanks for stepping up. I would have done so myself but felt that I have a lot to learn about the needs of the 7th.
Twelve candidates. Each has 10 minutes before Council, then response to questions from council. Want a pool on how long the meeting will last? Should council reduce the list for interviews?
I have been unable to find contact info for Gary Flack Powell, Robin Robinson, and Betty Squire.
If a reader *does* know how to get in touch with them, could either please forward that information to me ar murden@gmail.com or forward this message:
You would think City Council at city hall would know if they have registered?
When you run for politics you become public property (of sorts) and public access.
For info on candidates…the applications are public information, and available through city clerk’s office.
Looks like we have a good selection of fully qualified applicants who have lived in the district prior to McQuinn winning the delegate seat.
Of the twelve, many are fully qualified, honest, and have integrity.
I’m really impressed by Sharon Burton’s letter and resume -she’s got all the good stuff that is right up my alley- education and preservation and has good experience in both. Like John Murden (who dropped out -boo hoo), Sharon Burton can brigde the gaps, the different income brackets, and understand the plight of the poor and those who love history. If we desire a mixed income neighborhood, we must have someone appointed who understands what a good education looks like and how RPS needs to become a first choice, otherwise, we will continue to see those in the middle leaving.
I hope the other applicants submit their letters and resumes. Again we have some great people on board -Burton, Carletta, West, Dotts, etc.
I agree that there are no obviously unqualified candidates. Ms. Burton is hampered by the fact that nothing she has done in recent years has not been at the behest of Wilder, and it is reasonable to assume that her role on council would be to overcut their work.
Sharon was hanging on Doug Wilder’s coat tail and we all know it. Her husband Art, was in the mix of that foolishness as well as 5 time loser Torey Edmonds. They have always been the spoilers of the East End.Torey has also made many enemies in the East End as well as the want to be smart Art.
Ron, for me to believe you, you’re going to have to be more specific. When Wilder was first elected, he was favored citywide then he made some mistakes and people backed away. Wilder’s mayoral administration was a mixed bag of good and bad decision making.
Joseph, Often someone comes on here with their name in red that is linked to nowhere bashing and calling someone like Burton or Torey names and praising McQuinn. Are your names in red because you are using public computers? And how have these folk spoiled the east end? They haven’t been serving on city council or on school board. What I like about the people you mentioned is that they have been in line with what Obama represents for years. I have a feeling you can’t stand their progressive thinking because it threatens your gang’s power. Listen to Obama’s speeches carefully -we are in a new era and I imagine some are desperately hanging on by a thread. That is why you stoop to name calling.
RE: post 9 – WELL SAID!!!!!
Odd, me thinks, that Newbille has not submitted anything here yet…
In fact, I don’t think I have seen or hard anything from her since all this started. Has anyone? Being so aloof isn’t really a characteristic I would find admirable in a public servant.
Ms. Burton’s application is on file and is a public document. She mentions as qualifications the various positions/boards in the Wilder Admministration, including his transition team, the Mayor’s Roundtable, etc.
Ron – what was wrong with the Mayor’s Roundtable? I went to those meetings. It fizzled out in the end, but hey it was an attempt at getting the citizens voices heard, and Sharon Burton was well meaning in running them. There wasn’t a thing dirty, or crooked, or behind the scenes with them. Those qualifications show that she’s been publicly involved, that’s all.
As to Wilder – I voted for him, a lot of people did – he won, city wide. We really thought he represented change, and to this day I think he did at the time, he got rid of a lot of dead wood before he got mired in admiring his own looks. But please, let’s not go back into that too much.
Sharon ran a good race against McQuinn some years ago and that didn’t have a thing to do with Wilder; she’d never run before, and, while she lost, she got 45% of the vote across the district. I think she’s fully qualified and I’m supporting her. For as much as my voice counts, which may not be much given the other thread I’ve seen but not read on here about a closed hearing….
Interesting artice in Style this week.
http://www.styleweekly.com/ME2/…
I’ve added info for Sharon Burton and Carletta Wilson up top.
Reading thru sharon burton’s letter I wondered why she brought up the topic of working with the cha for a redesign of macdonalds. The real design was for burton, lee young, tory edmonds to claim that those opposed to mcd were racists (wanted to deny jobs to black fast food workers), and to impose guilt on all the uppity white folks at the cha. What did it really matter, all the trash would be in the bottom, not up on the hill.
Bill, that’s just not true about Sharon Burton. (Lee Young maybe but not Sharon.) I think that was an unnecessary attack, and right now everyone – including you – needs to be focused on the way this whole issue of an appointment is being handled. Focused energies get media attention focused on the issues, and just maybe get the way things are done around here CHANGED. (As in YES WE CAN type of change).
All Sharon was doing on her resume was stating that she’d had community involvement in the past. We here on the blog need to stay focused on the current issues, to wit, how this so-called appointment is being handled.
Now find your manners please, get away from the negatives, and pay attention to the present. Thanks.
it is not an attack, simply a statement of fact. why does an inconvenient truth become an attack? i have no idea why burton would claim helping with the design of mcds as an example of bringing improvement to the community. then again, the trash doesnt blow up the hill.
Got to hand it to Ron, he must truly have inside information. It seems Conrad is running stronger than would seem possible for an activist Huckabee/Kilgore Republican. Is it the downtown business types pushing him for his support of the stadium? Or is it something more subtle, such as the Marsh team thinking he would be a good second choice for his support of the stadium? Read of his tribute to McQuinn in his letter and see if you don’t think so.
Take a closer look at Sam Patterson. Has experience in the district, knows city hall, has good work ethic, and understands the personalities of council. Then again, maybe all those are not good things, sometimes.
“good work ethic” how so? or just another sponge at the public trough
Times Dispatch website reports Newbille out. O, ye of little faith.
Newbille withdraws bid to fill vacant Richmond City Council seat
bill, while you’re busy plucking and dismissing each applicant, could you please tell us who you are supporting?
We can not let our guards down, the work is just beginning. We the residents in the 7th district are more of like minds than we are of different minds. We need to identify our 7th district candidate and begin the campaigning process. Thank you 7th district for coming together as one and letting our voices be heard. But we must remember November is right around the corner.
McDonald’s was going to be built there no matter what, What Sharon did was negotiate to build with bricks,so to blend with the neighborhood, hours of operation, etc…
Ron,
You must be kidding about Sam Patterson! A LOT of people found him to be vague, elusive, not straightforward, dishonest, and not on the job (always at home rather than in the office). He seems to side with people and not be impartial. He was also the mouthpiece for McQuinn when she got so high and mighty and stopped answering questions directly to her constituents. You call those good work ethics and characteristics for public office?
Eric
not sure yet, in 2004 i was excited abt voting for complete reform of city govt, unfortunately it did not work out. the 2008 election results said no to reform. who is the reform applicant for the job? based on the potential damage that a council member could do, i might be inclined to support someone that would agree to do nothing. you know sort of a “do no harm” candidate. which applicant is that?
Bill is just one of those people who is happiest when he is crabbiest. It’s okay; just remember that he never has a nice day.
gray, i think you are right abt sharon for another reason. public safety likely trumps all other local issues. sharon was on the committee that got monroe/community policing and that was reform in itself. it seems to have stuck with norwood.
Per #29,
Eric,did uyou send this post from work, on the law firm’s computer? So who’s to crticize another person’s work ethic?
ron, we’re not paying Eric’s salary, so his job performance is between him and his employer, however, we will be paying the salary of our next city council rep.