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Election Guide 2009
In addition to the state-wide races, on November 3rd voters in the East End will be electing a new city council representative for the 7th District and selecting a House of Delegates representative for either the 70th or the 71st districts. Also on the ballot will be uncontested races for Commonwealth’s Attorney, Sherif, and Treasurer.
This page will be updated until election day. (Last update: 10/31/09 10:33AM.) Please post any comments, questions, or suggestions below.
See also: ALL POSTS TAGGED “ELECTION”
City Council 7th District
There are 6 candidates running in this special election to fill the seat left vacant when Delores McQuinn was elected to the House of Delegates last January. The 6 candidates were recorded at the CHA Candidates Forum on October 16 at the Robinson Theater.
Ronald Bond
A 30+ year resident of the 7th District, Bond is a 1978 graduate of Maggie L. Walker HS, has a degree in Real Estate Business from J.S. Reynolds Community College, and studied psychology at VCU without obtaining a degree. A perenial candidate, Bond ran for the council seat in 1992 and for the school board seat in 2006 and 2008 (winning 6.6% and 11.6% of the vote respectively). A September 2006 interview with richmond.com puts on display Bond’s sometimes fractured approach to the English language. In that interview he cites his main qualification as “a genuine concern”, and goes on to say that:
I am a leader. I have a gift in problem-solving which is a skill. I would use my business knowledge in listening to people’s needs and problems, then finding a solution.
Clarence Kenney
INTERVIEW TO POST THIS WEEK
Was fired from job with City Parks & Rec due to conflict with candidacy. A July 2008 article on richmond.com states that “Kenney is a recreational supervisor, who is studying management at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College”. Kenney first ran for public office, seeking this same seat last year against Delores McQuinn (and took 20% of the vote). In the same article, when asked to explain why voters should choose him, Kenney explained that:
“I have lived here all my life,” says Kenney, “and I would be more honest, more sincere, more creative and more available.”
Deanna Lewis
[CHPN Interview 9/11/09] [website] [email]
47, self employed business woman; professional artist and renovator of homes. Lewis has been in the area for two years. HS grad, some college. Grew up in Detroit, in VA since 1982. Sees the key issues of the 7th as Urban blight, poverty and education. A supporter of the Union Hill O&H District. Opposed to Echo Harbor, proposes a land swap. Has called the Oakwood Heights decision “a political decision” rather than one based on the facts.
The next three years will be very formative for the District and “responsible development” is a key piece of that. My goal is to bring a prosperous Urban Gentrification based community to the 7th District at the heart of the Richmond.
Cynthia Newbille
[CHPN Interview 10/25/09] [website] [email]
Acting executive director of the United Way’s Family Resource Center on 24th Street, previously served as chief of staff to then-City Manager Calvin D. Jamison and managed the city’s East District Initiative. Graduated Armstrong High School, holds a bachelor’s in psychology/linguistucs and a masters in psychology from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, and is close to completion on her doctoral degree in public policy and administration at VCU. Previous positions include a stint as the executive director of the National Black Women’s Health Project and the director of the Head Start program at the Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science in Compton, California. Says of Echo Harbor:
“Any project that would preclude the view and/or public access to that valuable resource is not the project for us to consider.”
Garry Powell
[CHPN Interview 10/31/09] [website] [email]
Human-resources coordinator for Patient First.
Robin Robinson
[CHPN Interview 9/21/09] [website] [email]
Instructional assistant at Metropolitan Day School.A resident of the district for more than a decade, Robinson is a single mother of a teenage son. Former marketing teacher at Armstrong High School, has previously worked in retail sales. Describes herself as “pro-development and pro-redevelopment”, but comes out quickly against the Echo Harbor development. In what is shaping up as a referendum on the local legacy and political interconnectedness of Delores McQuinn, Henry Marsh, et al, Robinson walks a fine line of casting herself as the the viable independent candidate without too stridently denying the influence and impact of Senator Marsh. When asked directly about the notion that there is a replacement candidate already chosen by the powers-that-be, Robinson smiles and replies in metaphore that while she has great respect for the cultivator and what has been grown, that is “time for a new garden”.
70th House of Delegates
Henry Otis Brown
INTERVIEW TO POST THIS WEEK
Independent. Lawyer, former college professor. Cites need for “affordable health care, crime reduction and providing your youth with a better educational system”, desire to encourage entrepreneurship and small business growth.
Delores McQuinn
Democrat. Cites work “to improve public education, to care for the elderly and less fortunate, and to make our communities a better place to live and work”. Chairman of the Slave Trail Commission. Former 7th District School Board representative, former City Council 7th District representative, elected to House of Delegates in January 2009 in a special election to fill seat left vacant with Jones’ election to Richmond mayor.
71st House of Delegates
Jennifer McClellan
Democrat with broad community support. Lawyer for Verizon Communications. Elected to the seat in 2005. $125,703 raised as of 10/25/09. Declares top priorities to be “supporting our public schools through better pay for our teachers, smaller class sizes for our children, and increased school construction and renovation funding, helping small businesses thrive in the Virginia economy, and ensuring our public safety officials have the tools and training they need to keep Virginians safe.”
Silver Persinger
An engaged citizen with no ties to either party. City Council candidate in 2006, State Senate candidate in 2007. $165 raised as of 10/25/09. Publishes Richmond City Council Reporter & Telegraph. Calls for: open government, expanding democracy, citizen control of government, more freedom, more humane government, limiting corporate influence in our government.
John I’m a former marketing teacher at Armstrong High of Richmond Public Schools. I was licensed in the State of Virginia up until June 2009. I decide in February not to renew my license when I decided to run for office. My retail management background includes President/Owner Ashante’Inc., Store Manager for Ashby’s, a ladies specialty store owned by Best Products of Richmond, Virginia and department manager for Miller and Rhoads Department Stores -Regency Mall also a Richmond based retailer. But my most important jobs have been the last fourteen years here in the 7th district as a Mother, Teacher, Neighbor and Friend.
The 7th District has its own Larry Sabato! Thank you, John, for taking the time to keep us informed about this election. May we cogitate carefully when making our decisions. I look forward to your critique when the votes have been counted. meg
To elaborate a bit –
The next three years will be very formative for the District and “responsible development” is a key piece of that. Gentrification works no doubt. However, I see this district as ripe, a blank slate, with it’s enormous inventory of vacant lots (1500 city wide) for a perfect Urban Gentrification push. I bought my first home in in 1997 in a “planned community” designed around UG built in the late 70’s. That concept created one of the most thriving diverse communities I’ve ever seen. A mix of several housing options, including public housing that provided people with diverse incomes to own and rent homes. The community had great schools and children from ALL walks of life had access to the same education in a great public school system. The community shared the benefit of the same public services, public parks, police protection, hospitals, well planned public transportation system and local businesses that grew to support the community. Thirty years later that community was in the heart of the wealthiest and most thriving counties in the country, Fairfax County, 20 minutes from Washington, DC. My goal is to bring a prosperous Urban Gentrification based community to the 7th District at the heart of Richmond. It’s ALL possible.
My goal would be to team up with Ellen Roberson and Reva Trammell to address the problems their specific districts share: Urban blight, poverty, crime and poor public housing conditions. I’ll work with fellow Council members and encourage the School Board to eliminate the current Standards of Learning (SOL) which are set far too low, raise the bar on expectations from students and provide the funding to the School Board for programs to tutor those that are falling behind academically and at risk. A Certificate of Attendance is not a key to a prosperous future.
http://www.deannalewis4council.com
“I’ll work with fellow Council members and encourage the School Board to eliminate the current Standards of Learning (SOL) which are set far too low”
I can tell that you do not currently have a child enrolled in RPS. My children have a lot of homework and must work very hard to meet each SOL objective. The tests are not easy, but they have been able to excel thanks to the devotion of their teachers.
My questions are: Are you truly aware of the SOL standards, which by the are comparable to almost all other states for each grade level? Do you know of the current programs that exist to help students that are falling behind? You must know what exists now to be able to judge what needs to be fixed.
Neither City Council or School Board members have any power when it comes to eliminating or forming SOLs. The Standards of Learning are STATE standards. Our local officials are free to express opinions regarding SOLs but exercise zero control over them.
Deanna did you learn anything from the Church Hill Forum, when they discussed the Dillion Rule? Please before you speak, RESEARCH!!!!!
Deanna, in #3 you wrote – “encourage the School Board to eliminate the current Standards of Learning (SOL) which are set far too low, raise the bar on expectations from students and provide the funding to the School Board for programs to tutor those that are falling behind academically and at risk.”
Gray said it first and correctly – those SOLs are state standards! Neither you nor the school board can eliminate them!
Further, I have several friends who are teachers who would most likely take issue also with your comment regarding the expectations from students currently being too low.
Additionally, there is already a tutoring program up here, CHAT, in case you didn’t know it and from what I hear they do well. Plus, there is some tutoring available in the schools. I have a friend whose son tutored math while home from college a couple of years ago.
Damn, the 7th district maybe in trouble! We got 2 possibilities Gary Powell or Robin Robinson both are legitimate 7th district residents, and understand their roles on council. Newbille performs nicely, but that’s just a show
It appears at least one candidate doesn’t understand that a whoooole lot of people in cities don’t like the word “gentrification” for many reasons, including race and class reasons. The terms “urban renewal” or “infill development” might be what that candidate is trying to say?
“Gentrification” is a really loaded, negative term in 2009, like it or not.
I’m guessing that “urban renewal” doesn’t play too well in Fulton.
Good catch. Guess the whole concept is a land mine.
No, the whole concept is not a land mine. There’s plenty of space for revitalization, but it must be inclusive.
Quite frankly, after hearing *most* of the candidates speak at a local forum, I am pretty sure the only person who will not embarrass the 7th district is Cynthia Newbille. Folks, sometimes there’s an “establishment” candidate for a reason.
PS- I love Garry Powell’s enthusiasm… hoping Newbille will create a job for him somewhere 🙂
# 9 Yes neighbor – Gentrification is a BAD word and I know the meaning very well.
In-fill construction can cause gentrification; high-end development/ exclusive housing which can push low income households out of a community creating more impoverished neighborhoods where people suffer the consequences.
My plan is the opposite. This concept benefits all rather than a few by encouraging high-end building and including low income households into the mix of new development so all classes and various incomes can benefit from the same public services and opportunities.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gentrification
Thanks for posting the Fulton link John. That is a good example of something gone wrong. That was also a different time and a much different scenario.
This is building on VACANT lots and rebuilding communities which blend in with the historic character of this area. This is not tearing down history and building again.
The Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods was right there at Ellen Robertson’s public forum on creating tax incentives to encourage development on these vacant lots. They put a couple of developers in check at the meeting when they proposed tearing old homes down and putting up homes that did not blend with the exisiting neoghborhoods. They, and I, will be there to insure that what happend in Fulton will not happen again AND that development will complement the history of these neighborhoods rather than erase it.
Imagine hundreds of houses on those vacant lots along the lines of what BHC is producing or larger scale projects that have neighborhood density AND character. Look at this for a style of high-density condos for example:
http://www.bentleypainting.com/3270-7420thSt.jpeg
or the old Morson’s Row built right here in the mid-1800’s: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2008/3544682540_f547699be6.jpg
It’s a different world today than it was here in the 60’s. But it could happen just like that again if people do not guard against it and plan well thought out communities.
#13 Referring to Newbille, “Folks, sometimes there’s an “establishment” candidate for a reason.”
Shockoe, The Oxford Dictionary of Current English defines “establishment” as “a group in a society who have power and influence in matters of policy or opinion, and who oppose change.”
I believe either Robinson or Powell would bring honesty, integrity, and good work ethic into office along with doing their very best in representing the people of the 7th district.
Thanks Gray
I realize Church Hill is not in the Fifth District, but…
The reality is that Jewell has not done a good job of representing citizens’ interests- go ahead, ask the citizens and residents. Now developers are afraid of losing his vote, including one for Echo Harbour.
But in addition to his leadership failings, this DUI reveals a failure in character, and more than ever, Jewell should RESIGN!