Richmond's Next Mayor: Testing the Waters

In this morning's Times-Dispatch, reporters Will Jones and Michael Martz offer what is likely to be the first of many assessments of this year's race for Richmond's mayoral office. In the process, they hit on what are likely to be several hurdles facing the six individuals currently on the "definitely" or "possibly" running list.

• Wilder's Shadow: Everyone in the race is going to have to deal with Wilder, one way or another. In addition to the current mayor's mixed (but declining) popularity and how that will force candidates to attach or distance themselves to his administration, no one can expect the mercurial Wilder to stop running the city between now and November. His policy decisions and public actions over the next five months will do as much to set the tone for the race as anything the candidates try to put on the table.

• Dealing with Anonymity: Who are these people? Even the "establishment" candidates like attorney Robert Grey and Councilman Bill Pantele are virtual unknowns to wide swaths of the city's residents. Building visibility and credibility across a majority of the city's nine districts is going to be a slog for some, an impossibility for others. Because that will cost money -- to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars -- look for the corporate community to continue to play a lead role in this political drama. But community associations, churches and other civic groups take heart: Candidates can't reach a critical mass without relying on your ability to actually bring large numbers of engaged citizens to the table. The bottom line is that none of the six candidates have the name recognition to seize too early a lead.

• A Different Race: The TD piece suggests that this might actually be a race built on vision and competency, that with six candidates running on a relatively level playing field issues will lead the debate. I'm not convinced that's necessarily a given, though it would be a novel experience in Richmond. There are some huge issues on the table -- the vision for downtown; the state of our school system; our decaying urban infrastructure (roads, sewers, stormwater); the city's place in regional conversations; the virtually invisible issue of poverty -- and while I'm sure the candidates will be pressed on these and other issues, I've yet to see a groundswell of civic angst that suggests this race will hinge on more than personality, political alliances and a general sense from the public of who might be the better person for the job.

Comments

[Scott Burger]

Update: the paper on water rates was continued. Meanwhile, Richmonders continue to pay the highest minimum water rates in the country and reward large entities that waste water with discounts.

[Scott Burger]

Wilder and Council are testing the water at tonight's Council meeting. They are voting on slightly lower minimum water rates so that they cannot be accused of doing nothing about them. Meanwhile Henrico still charges their citizens less yet Richmond sells water to Henrico. Maybe all Richmond neighborhoods should defect to Henrico.

[Pauline]

All candidates should pledge to appoint a new press secretary.

[Paul]

Integrity, honestly and personality will be critical. Doug Wilder was vull of vision and ambrition, but short on the personal qualifications need to carry that out. The mayor's office only gives you a chunck of the pie, not the who pan. Whoever succeeds Mayor Wilder will have to work cooperatively with city council, the school board, the beuracracy and the business community as well as neighborhood groups and nearby communities.

[Scott Burger]

Again, no specifics on issues. In what is sure to show my age, I ask, "Where's the beef?"