Meet The Candidates
There's six days to go until anyone interested in running for mayor of Richmond must put their money where their mouth is. Tuesday, June 10, is the filing deadline for when mayoral candidates have to submit 500 signatures of support with at least 50 from each city district.
With incumbent Mayor L. Douglas Wilder out of the running , it's anybody's guess who could take the helm. So far, eight people have announced their intentions to run. Last week two people filed their notice of intent, current City Council president Bill Pantele and Rodney D.C. Barnes . This week, another former council member, Shirley Harvey , joined the race.
To keep you informed, Richmond.com will give you the skinny on each candidate every Thursday until the June 10 deadline.
Today, meet candidate Rodney D.C. Barnes .
Rodney D.C. Barnes
Age: 41
Family or pets: I'm married with kids
Occupation: I own a general contracting company
Background: I grew up in Chicago. I moved to North Carolina about a year before I moved to Richmond. I moved to Richmond in 2000.
What would people be surprised to know about you?
The thing that would probably surprise people the most that I've actually found a plan than can reduce the cost of fuel. I plan on putting it in once I get into office. It's one of those top secret things. It's a very secret process. It will reduce gas to $2 a gallon or less. It's not hard or expensive, and requires a little work from everybody. Once the city adapts, it would cut the cost to constituents in half, for what they pay for police and emergency and city vehicles, along with residence savings. That's also more money that could go into the school system.
What are your favorite Richmond restaurants?
Croaker's Spot in downtown, New York Fried Chicken and the pizza spot in Shockoe Bottom
What are your top priorities?
Education and economics of the city. I want to see the Richmond School System actually rise up to the top of the rankings for the schools here in the state and across the country. It doesn't make sense that Henrico and Chesterfield counties have great systems and Richmond is left in the dust.
I want to give more money back into better homes and the communities. A lot of money is being spent. I was asked about the increase of the mayor's salary (from $125,000 to $150,000). That's $25,000 that could go back into the schools. It's just needless.
Why should people vote for you?
Because I'm the everyday guy. I'm the same as everybody else. I feel the same issues and same problems that all the other residents have. It's different if you're standing on top of the mountain and empathizing versus if you stand right here beside someone and sympathize with them.
Meet the rest of the candidates:
May 1: The Rev. Dwight Clinton Jones
May 8: Lawrence E. Williams
May 15 : Donnie Corker
May 22 : Paul Goldman
May 29 : Bill Pantele
June 5 : Rodney D.C. Barnes
Please sign in to respond | | Register