There is a very good chance that, after tomorrow’s vote, Richmond’s Mayoral election will require an expensive runoff election. Expect some complaints in the local media and blogs that the Mayor At Large position is a failure and the runoff is just another sign of it. Expect the Richmond Greens to put forward the idea of IRV, instant runoff voting, for both the Mayor of Richmond and the President of the United States. I have it on good authority that this call for IRV will be met by false complaints from Virginia Democrats that IRV is illegal under the federal Voter’s Act, that it somehow dilutes African America voting. I say, bring on the discussion.

According to a recent poll, the Richmond mayoral is coming down to “a virtual tie” between Jones and Pantele, though there are a slew of undecided voters.The Richmond Greens were leaning towards Goldman before he dropped out. Also before he left the race, Goldman finally let it be known that he believes both Pantele and Grey have made deals so that if either is elected, the white elephant downtown arts center/Center Stage project will be bailed out, no matter how much it costs the rest of the City.Now that Grey is only polling 13 percent and most of his support still appears to be from certain moneyed interests, it seems clear that Grey’s main purpose is to block Jones from being elected over Pantele. But, even if he is a better candidate than Pantele, can we assume Jones will end the downtown corporate welfare?  Or is it just more of the same ol’? Can we get either candidate to go on record on the litmus test of the downtown arts center/Center Stage?  

A number of Richmond mayoral candidates are protesting the City Democratic Committee’s endorsement for Dwight Jones. Some of them are even suggesting that the City Democratic Committee is in violation of the Voting Rights Act and are acting against the values and principles of the Democratic Party. For Greens, this comes as no surprise. We question what those supposed Democratic values are. We list ours on the GP national website. Where do the Democrats or Republicans list theirs? More importantly, does anyone believe they follow any set values anymore? As times get tough in Richmond and the nation, please continue to ask leadership for values’ based decision making. And yes, this means more than just keeping track of who is having an affair or whose baby is whose. This continues to come down to democratic (notice the small ‘d’) basics of a fair vote and open debate.

So one of the major Mayoral forums is tonight. The focus is supposed to be on “the proposed Downtown Master Plan and ideas for the development and revitalization of downtown”. Well, while I support the Downtown Master Plan’s public process, can I just say that I am tired of downtown? There’s much more to Richmond than just downtown. Don’t get me wrong, I lived downtown at 7th and Franklin for a couple of years. Yeah, the business week was busy, yet the weekends were incredibly quiet. I was disturbed by the taxpayer money wasted on all these projects that were supposed to ’save downtown’, while no one ever asked me or my roommates, who lived downtown, what we thought was needed. Meanwhile, the schools and other neighborhoods were neglected. So pardon me if I scoff at more of this myopic focus on downtown. And in case you have not yet wised up to the game that is being played, here is another hint: Now Mayor Wilder and the Times Disgrace are saying that the Boulevard may not be the location for a new baseball stadium, and Shockoe Bottom is being considered again. So here we go, Richmond, neighborhoods and schools will once again be ignored while this corporate welfare downtown debate takes “Center Stage”, AGAIN! 

The local corporate hegemony has been mentioned on this site before. Thankfully, at least one Richmond mayoral candidate is willing to lead the city out of it.

http://goldmanusa.blogspot.com/2008/09/goldman-declines-to-participate-in.html

http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/search.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-09-18-0074.html

[The letter below was sent earlier today to the Management Round Table’s representatives in response to their plans to hold a private debate-style forum, with the press and public not allowed to attend, this coming September 29th at The Jefferson Hotel with the candidates for Mayor]

Tayloe,

First, thanks for your time and courtesy. Given that we have been communicating by email, I have written this electronic letter.

As you know from our previous telephone conversations, I have been giving much thought to the totality of circumstances surrounding the private debate-type forum proposed by the Management Round Table for September 29. Yesterday, I received your email detailing the basic format and replied with an email inquiring about the status of a previous request.

Last night, I had a conversation with a former CEO of a major publicly-traded corporation. We discussed the totality of the circumstances regarding the 29th. His counsel helped clarify my final analysis, which had started between breaks in shaking hands with voters at Southside Plaza.

5 years ago, when others either refused to step forward and/or backed off, it fell to me to write the Elected Mayor law, head the petition drive to get the measure on the election ballot and run the campaign to pass the referendum freeing Richmond from a failed system of government. I am very much indebted to all the people who helped, they cared deeply for their City and I admire them very much.

The time had come to end Richmond’s Plantation Mentality. Unfortunately, all of my opponents in this year’s mayor’s race were comfortable with this old, failed system.

Not surprisingly then, it again will take my leadership to challenge the old way of governing Richmond.

I have great respect for the members of the Management Round Table and applaud them for all they have done for our city. It is my hope that if elected Mayor, I can get their support for my proposal to revolutionize the way we modernize outdated local school facilities, using a combination of state and federal historic tax credits. It will save Richmond property taxpayers 100-200 millions of dollars. City Council and the School Board already back it. With a Mayor actually willing to do the hard work needed, I am confident the small change needed in federal law to make it a reality will be enacted.

So while I would very much enjoy on September 29th discussing and debating this matter, my proposal to create jobs by, among other things, slashing business taxes by 50% and cutting $15 million from the bloated city government, there is a larger principle at stake, and my strong opposition to the proposal by many leaders of the business community that wanted to take away the people’s right to elect their school board representative.

Right now, the private debate-type forum being run by the Management Round Table on September 29th is closed to the press and the public. Indeed, I was told my request to even allow someone from the campaign to likewise attend the event was unprecedented. As indicated, this has made me reflect long and hard on the situation.

In a nutshell, I have concluded that in this day and age, there is not sufficient justification for candidates for high public office to agree to participate in such a private debate-type forum.

As a leader, I have always strived to be true to my principles. I urge the MRT to likewise reflect upon the situation. But as things stand presently, having had a chance to reflect upon the totality of the circumstances, I believe it the better wisdom to reconsider and thus, I will have to respectfully decline your invitation to participate on September 29.

Again, thank you for you time and courtesy. I ask that this letter be copied to all the members of the Management Round Table.

Sincerely,

Paul Goldman

Whose wasting the most taxpayer money, Robert Grey by backing the Mayor’s budget spending, or Bill Pantele, by opposing it?It reminds me of this previous editorial on “spending like drunken sailor”.It also reminds me of previous GP platform statements. Again, the Green view of ‘economic sustainability‘ speaks volumes about which party has true, common sense, conservative values. But back to Goldman’s question, and the underlying ones- don’t Richmond citizens deserve, no, don’t they have a legal right to a balanced budget from its government? Where is it? Don’t look for help from the state government.  

Res. No. 2008-R114 (Patron: All Members of Council) - To establish the City Charter Review Commission to conduct a comprehensive review of the City Charter and to recommend any necessary changes to the Council.

Dear Honorable City Employees and others,

I am writing because I am traveling this afternoon so I am unable to attend today’s Governmental Operations Committee but I wanted to express my opposition to the proposed Charter Review Commission and process.  

I’ve heard it described that the meetings will be open to the public but there will be no opportunity for citizen comment.  The proposed Commission is to be constituted of lawyers, elected officials (past or present), constitutional experts or professors, and business people who may not live in the city. Almost every class of resident is represented, save the most important — Citizens.

We are in our current situation with the lack of clarity in the roles and powers of the Council and Mayor because there was not an adequate discussion of what the change would mean to our form of government.  This is the first time the Charter will be reviewed in 60 years!  Why doesn’t the Council and the Mayor insist upon a review process similar to the “charrette” process used by the city in developing the updated Master Plan.


A Commission of “experts” is an insult the principles of democracy and self rule.  Democracy is based on the notion that people are the legitimate source of sovereignty — that government gains it’s legitimacy by the consent of the governed.  To assert that citizens have no rule to play in the redefinition of our form of government is elitist and diminishes the power of citizens.  Adding further insult is Mr. Tyler’s insistence on allowing individuals’ who own a business within in the city but do not live in the city to have a role shaping our government.  Shall our government be designed by business men can’t even vote in the City of Richmond? Only Mr. Pantele and Ms. McQuinn expressed strong support for limiting Commissioners to residents of Richmond.

I remember a Commission established by Council a few years back to study the strong mayor form or government.  At the conclusion of the Commission’s study, they offered no verdict on the proposed change of government and the Commission’s sole reccommendation was to extend the terms of Council.  I am afraid this new Commission will make similar undemocratic and unwarranted proposals.

A major discussion in this process should include the desire of citizens and elected officals to repeal the Dillon Rule which is a major obstruction to self government. (I also see today you will be discussing the Council’s Legislative agenda, repealing the Dillon Rule is an issue I would like to see the City purse.)  The Dillon Rule states that municipal governments are “creatures of the state” therefore municipal governments do not have any power not delegated by the General Assembly to the locality.  Only six states in the Union utilize the Dillon Rule and it has no place in a democracy.  The Dillon Rule by it’s rationale conveniently forgets that the state is a “creature of the people,” and that the people are the rightful heirs and source of all political power.  The Dillon Rule prizes the rule of the State over the rule of the people.  Me, I like democracy, open government, and empowering citizens in our political processes.

I hope my comments have been helpful and constructive.  Additionally, I would like to volunteer to serve on this Charter Review Commission.  As many of you know, I am serious about government, I have demonstrated a strong commitment to citizenship, and I want the best form of government for the City which I have made my home.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Respectfully yours, Silver Persinger

Some local media and bloggers are starting to snottily declare Goldman a “Nader-like spoiler” in the race for Richmond’s Mayor in an attempt to further diminish his candidacy. Rather than go over the tired arguments of 2000, let me just say that by doing so, they are insulting candidates, insulting voters, and really diminishing the whole election. All of these candidates are running legitimate campaigns for what will be a close race (in nine different districts). To simply focus on money and hastily drawn polling and declare one candidate (of five) ‘a spoiler’ is irresponsible, especially when THERE HAS STILL NOT BEEN SERIOUS DISCUSSION/COMPARISON ON ISSUES. Richmonders deserve better. Although the local media and bloggers like to pull his sentences out of context, Goldman is the only candidate so far to really put forward some publicly stated personal commitments on important environmental issues. I reiterate my challenge to the other candidates to do the same so citizens can compare. Don’t “spoil” this election by making it into a mere ‘horse race’- demand better- Richmond deserves it!P.S. One topic that has also not been discussed at length is the possibility of a run-off. IRV anyone? (My cynical prediction is that Richmond media will condemn any runoff without considering giving Richmonders the possibility of even more choice.)  

 editorial by Scott BurgerSo, no surprise here, Richmond needs to cut its budget. I am sure SaveRichmond.com will be on this sooner than later, but I can tell you now that mayoral candidate Paul Goldman, the Richmond Greens, and the Richmond Libertarians all agree- this city cannot afford to subsidize the white elephant opera house project. The deal that mayoral candidate Robert Grey brokered is bogus and is not in the interests of the citizens of Richmond.

Hopefully the Crusade will start its own website soon. 

RICHMOND CRUSADE FOR VOTERS

COMING ATTRACTIONS 2008

July 1, 2008: Greater Jefferson Davis Civic Association Mayoral Forum.

                      Moderator:  Antione M. Green, President, Richmond Crusade for Voters

July 15, 2008: School Board Candidates Forum.

                      Moderator: Anita Blanton, WRIC News Channel 8

July 26, 2008: 2nd Annual Summer Picnic,

                      at Joe Morrissey’s House, featuring a Special Guest.   

August 19, 2008: City Council Candidates Forum

                     Moderator TBA. 

September 2008: Mayoral Candidate Forum.

                     Moderator and Location TBA. 

September 16, 2008: Election 2008 Endorsement Meeting. 

October 21, 2008: Election 2008 Rally.   

 All dates and locations are subject to change.