Meet Your District: 7/East End
On Nov. 4, registered voters in all nine of Richmond's voting districts will be choosing their representatives for city council and school board. Of course, while they are in the voting booth there will also be the matter of choosing a new president and so forth. Starting with the presidential primaries that began in January, interest in elections at all levels seems to be keen this year.
Among the other important races on the ballot this time around are two that will determine who will follow a couple of Virginia's superstar politicians, Sen. John Warner (who is retiring) and Mayor Doug Wilder (who will surely keep us guessing about what his next gig will be).
The densely populated 7th District contains the most eastern parts of Richmond; it is bounded to the north, east and somewhat to the south by Henrico County . The district does not cross the James River , also to the south. Neighborhoods in the 7th include: Fairfield , Church Hill , Fulton Bottom , Fulton Hill , Montrose Heights and the eastern portion of Shockoe Bottom .
Within the 7th District are Jefferson Hill Park , Libby Hill Park , Chimborazo Park , Gillies Creek Park , Powhatan Hill Park , Tobacco Row , the Edgar Allen Poe Museum and St. John's Church , where Patrick Henry gave his "Give me liberty, or give me death" speech in 1775.
Public schools open and operating in the district are: Belleview Elementary , Chimborazo Elementary , Fairfield Elementary , Court Elementary , George Mason Elementary , Woodville Elementary , Armstrong High , Franklin Military High and the Pre-School Development Center .
According to the 2000 census the population of the 7th was 85 percent black, 13 percent white, and two percent other.
City Council Candidates
There are two candidates on the ballot running for the 7th District's city council seat. Incumbent councilperson Delores L. McQuinn , 53, has served on council since 1999, when she was elected to fill the remaining term of Leonidas Young . Clarence Kenney , 50, is making his first run for public office.
McQuinn is the vice president of city council and the chairwoman of its Slave Trail Commission . She has retired from Philip Morris and serves as an associate minister of Mt. Olive Baptist Church . She attended Virginia Commonwealth University and Virginia Union , studying social work and education. She is married with two adult children. Prior to her time on council, she served on the school board from 1992-98.
McQuinn lists fighting crime and poverty, and providing affordable housing for the work force as her top priorities. She is not a fan of the charter school movement.
Why vote to reelect her?
"My experience," McQuinn says. "My proven leadership. I've got a pretty good record of making things happen, and making a difference in the lives of the people I serve."
On the controversial Echo Harbor project, McQuinn says she will "protect the view from Libby Hill and the public's access to the river." She calls for a master plan for developing the James River.
In the five-way mayoral contest, McQuinn has endorsed Del. Dwight Jones .
Kenney is a recreational supervisor, who is studying management at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College. He is married with no children, but he says he has been active in PTA matters. He points to improving cooperation with the school board as a key to solving Richmond's problems.
Kenney says he would like to see public schools in Richmond make it easier for children who need a laptop to get one, perhaps renting such equipment to the students for much less than it would cost to buy it. He cites a program in Henrico County he says has been successful with such a strategy.
Why should voters choose to vote for Kenney, rather than his opponent?
"I have lived here all my life," says Kenney, "and I would be more honest, more sincere, more creative and more available."
Kenney has not made an official endorsement in the mayoral race, but he says he "prefers Robert Grey."
School Board Candidates
Incumbent Richmond School Board member Keith West is not running for reelection. There are three candidates seeking to replace him. They are: Ronald L. Bond ; Donald L. "Don" Coleman ; Torey J. Edmonds .
Candidate Ronald Bond simply could not be reached. As he did not respond to telephone messages, the information on Don Coleman was taken from his web site.
Don Coleman, 47, is the owner of A level Up, Inc. and pastor-at-large of Commonwealth Chapel. He is married with two daughters. According to Coleman he "pioneered" Boys and Girls Clubs in public housing projects.
What will he do if he's elected?
On his web site he writes, "As your School Board Representative, I will facilitate the creation of a City Wide [sic] Vision for Educational Excellence. The key elements of this plan will be: Quality & Equality, Collaborative Efforts, and Financial Health."
Torey Edmonds, 49, is a community liaison specialist at the VCU Clark-Hill Institute for Positive Development.
Edmonds is married with four children and two grandchildren. Her background is in criminal justice and positive youth development, which targets at children at risk of being victims of/involved with violence.
On the Patrick Henry charter school controversy Edmonds says, "I'm not afraid of charter schools." But she adds that plans for such projects must be sound.
Why is she better than her competition?
"I am very dedicated to the work that I do," says Edmonds. "I feel I am the most experienced."
Edmonds calls for Richmond to set its expectations higher, beyond SOL test results. How to do that? She says, "Results begin with respectful relationships ... with council, with parents."
Meet the Other Districts:
- District 1 / West End District 2 / North Central District 3 / Northside District 4 / Southwest District 5 / Central District 6 / Gateway District 7 / East End District 8 / Southside District 9 / South Central
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