I pride myself in being a leader with integrity and determination who is able to reach across boundaries and unite people from all backgrounds to work together toward a common goal. For all of my adult life, I have been dedicated to working to help communities and people to live a better life and to move forward in ways that would benefit them. It has always been my passion to offer hope and promise for a brighter future for my community, whether it was in the 3rd District or other parts of this great city. I do so without compromising my belief that what we are all united through a common thread which allows us to work together reaching across racial and socio-economic boundaries to create a life that is better for all citizens.

As far back as I can remember, I have always been a leader with determination and integrity, working in different capacities in the community. It is a position that I have always been comfortable holding and it is one that that I have always readily accepted. Over the last 30 years, I have been in positions wherein people have placed their trust in my determination to move them forward on matters of importance and to offer a vision of where we should be headed. Whether setting up relief centers for families displaced as a result of Hurricane Ernesto or working with the police department, citizens, and agencies throughout the city on crime control issues, I have always been a leader determined to make a difference. As the city councilman for the 3rd district, I will offer true leadership for the community with a determination to see that the needs of the district are met and I will never compromise my integrity for the sake of personal gain.

Dear Valerie:

I was sent this question by my friend Mark Brandon. It inspired me to write the following:

What are two qualities that people who know you well might say make you suited for the office you seek?

I thought I might hijack your space as a person who knows Mark Brandon well.(5th district City Council candidate).

Here’s what you need to know about Mark Brandon. He picks up trash. Everywhere he goes in the city (and he never leaves the city, except for vacations and under duress). Cigarette butts, fast-food wrappers, and some things barely mentionable. Girls, Mark is single and if he invites you out on a date, you would be well advised to pack trash bags in your purse, rather than, say, lipstick. He’ll appreciate it. Number two on his list of pet peeves? Weeds.

Here’s where I’m going with this. He doesn’t just want Richmond to be better or cleaner or number three on any number of “best of” lists. He wants it to be perfect – number one – the top of the heap. And he has a long list of projects and task forces and ad hoc committees and God-knows-what-else to prove that he puts his time and talents where his mouth is. He’s gotten things done for Richmond in the past. He’ll do it again.

So this leads me to quality number 2 – he knows everyone. The guy in the suit he just talked to? A state legislator. The guy in the T-shirt? A former waiter/bartender/dishwasher. (He owned a restaurant that was so trendy that I only ate there once because I didn’t want to bring the kids) Not only did everyone else in town eat there at least once—everybody in town seems to have worked there. And Mark remembers all of them very fondly. Not only does he know a lot of people – he seems to really like all of them. He knows their problems and their issues and he wants to help them. And they trust him to help them and to understand what they need. What else does a city councilman need to know how to do? Just find out what the problems are and fix them.

When he is elected, I trust him to do it.