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Video from the 7th District Candidates Forum

About 50 people turned out for a forum with the 7th District School Board and City Council candidates at The Robinson Theater on Friday evening sponsored by CHPN, the Union Hill Civic Association, New Visions Civic League, and the Church Hill Association. One of the candidates said that this was the most people that she’d seen at an event like this all year.

Moderator Marc Cheatham (of The Cheats Movement) was excellent, and kept the show moving along and on topic. A HUGE THANK YOU.

I’d like to thank all four of the candidates for both coming out to the event, and for offering their time and service to our local government. They each came prepared, and we are lucky to have a slate of solid, credible candidates from which to choose.

For more information and links for the individual candidates, please check out the 7th District City Council and School Board Candidates Guide. We’ll be publishing interviews with Cynthia Newbille and Kirsten Gray over the next week or so.

Thank you, also, to all of the community volunteers who helped set up and break down the tables and chairs, my back totally appreciates it 🙂

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School Board

Kirsten Gray and Nadine Marsh-Carter

VIDEO ONE

Candidate introductions; Would you retain Superintendent Bedden?; Potential school closure; On working collaboratively with City Council

VIDEO TWO

On working collaboratively with City Council (continued); Long question from the audience which is basically “how can we be better?”

VIDEO THREE

Answer to “how can we be better?”; Audience question on accountability; Do you have a plan to reduce the metal detectors and police presence in our schools? (from Montigue Magruder)

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City Council

Joshua Williams and Cynthia Newbille

VIDEO ONE

Candidate introductions; Your priority in the 7th District in your first 100 days?; Public safety and crime; Support retention of Police Chief Alfred Durham?; How do you maintain the historic identity of the 7th District while also supporting progress?

VIDEO TWO

How do you maintain the historic identity of the 7th District while also supporting progress? (continued); Newbille: How do we bridge the gap in access to healthy food in the district?; Williams: What is your understanding of the Stone and Washington Football Team deals, and how they impact the 7th District?; From audience: community response to BHC project on Venable Street; From audience: What can we do to change the quality of life and community impact in areas of concentrated poverty?; From audience: On the Slavery Memorial Park in Shockoe Bottom; From audience: Long question sort of about Office of Community Wealth Building

VIDEO THREE

How do you plan bring transparency and communication to Council’s relationship with the new mayor?