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Meet Your District 8/Southside

With Election Day less than five weeks away, the last day to register to vote is Oct. 6.



From here on, the serious candidates will be answering questions from the media every day, and spending whatever money is on hand to present themselves to the public. That, while the less-than-serious candidates will gradually fade into the mists of history.



Like registered voters in Richmond's eight other voting districts, on Nov. 4, voters in the 8th District will be turning out to express themselves. They will do their duty as citizens to elect a new president to replace George Bush, a new senator to replace John Warner and a new mayor to replace Doug Wilder. They will also be choosing their representatives for city council and school board.



The 8th District lies entirely south of the James River, although its boundary does not touch the river. It contains the southern most parts of Richmond. Neighborhoods in the 8th include: Belmont Woods, Blackwell, Brookbury, Davee Gardens, Green Acres, Oak Grove, Throckmorton Estates, Woodhaven, Woodstock and parts of Bellemeade .   



In 2000, according to the national census, the population of the 8th district was: Black - 67 percent; White - 21 percent; Other - 12 percent. Of Richmond's nine districts, the 8th had experienced the largest decrease in population since the previous census.  



Public schools in the district are: Blackwell Elementary; Broad Rock Elementary; OakGrove/Bellmeade Elementary; Summer Hill/Ruffin Road Elementary, Boushall Middle . 



A search for public green spaces, parks, on the map of the 8th district didn't come up with much. Within the 8th District are McGuire Veterans Hospital and Southside Plaza shopping center.   



City Council



There are three candidates on the ballot running for the 8th District's city council seat. Incumbent Reva M. Trammell is being challenged by C. Allen Barrett and Eric W. Hunter, Sr .



Allen Barrett couldn't be reached.



Eric Hunter , 44, is married. He has three children and one grandchild. Hunter, who is a Navy veteran, operates Hunter Worldwide Logistics, a shipping company that deliver bulk items.



Hunter says education is his No. 1 priority, should he be elected. "The first thing I'd do is build schools in the district." He also calls for Richmond's high schools to offer students seeking to learn a trade a four-year curriculum on that track.



On public safety, in addition to more police officers on the street, Hunter calls for the establishment of an "elders court." Such a "court" would have elders from the community dealing with troubling, but less than dangerous, youth problems such as truancy and curfew violations. 



Hunter, who ran unsuccessfully for city council in 1994, has not endorsed a mayoral candidate. On why he is running and should win, Hunter says, "[In this district] our representation is missing. I have a record of 18 years of community service." 



Reva Trammell , 54, who is single, served on council from 1998-2002, then was reelected in 2006. She owns and operates RMT of Richmond, which owns and rents out buildings.



Trammell believes the City Charter needs some rewriting, with regard to how the mayor and council work together and what powers they have. As it is now, she says members of council have had their ability to act on behalf of their constituents curtailed. "We cannot call a department head," says Trammell.



In reference to how quickly agencies respond to citizens' requests for services, Trammell says, "When we had a city manager, it was better."



Trammell points with pride to developments in the 8th, enterprises that will bring new jobs, such as the art deco Model Tobacco building apartment project and the new GRTC headquarters.



Why send Trammell back for another term?



"This is my heart and soul," says Trammell, I've been here in the 8th District for 52 years."



Trammell has not endorsed any of the five candidates running for mayor.



School Board



Two candidates are vying to replace the incumbent member, Joan T. Mimms. They are: Dawn C. Page and Charles D. Willis .



Dawn Page is a guidance counselor and former teacher, according to her web site. Page is married with three children. She has a B.S. in business from Hampton University and a M.A. in school counseling from Central Michigan University. She has also served as president of the John B. Cary Elementary Parent-Teacher Association.



"As a professional working in our school system, I know we can do better and I am committed to improve the quality of education for our children in Southside," writes Page.



Charles Willis , 49, is a special events consultant. He is single/divorced with three children.



Willis says he is also "a certified trainer for non-violence intervention." However, the Richmond Education Association recently withdrew its endorsement of him, after learning he had been convicted of an assault on a special-education student at Boushall Middle School in 2003. 



If elected Willis wants to establish an "advisory council comprised of concerned parents and faith-based leaders" to represent the districts six precincts. 



Willis says he is "pro-choice about public charter schools." But he adds that the plan for the Patrick Henry project "still needs work."



Although he says he's leaning "strongly" toward one of the mayoral candidates, Willis won't say which one. Why vote for Willis?



"I'm the candidate in the 8th who has the experience, says Willis. "I've been involved in public schools for 30 years."

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