What do the three candidates vying to represent the residents of Richmond City Council’s Second District have in common?
All three are young males. All three are political first-timers.
And all three visited MLWGS one evening last week to speak with a dozen members of the Newtowne Neighborhood Association.
Speaking to a small audience in MLWGS adjunct room 153 on Monday evening, October 20, candidates Tyron Bey, Patrick Kjellberg, and Charles Samuels discussed everything from education to public safety to utility bills.
TYRON BEY
Bey, a recent Virginia State University political science graduate, and even more recently a U.S. Air Force veteran, is a Richmond native and resident of the Carver neighborhood.
The young African American man described himself as a “proud product of Richmond Public Schools,” and in his opening remarks he emphasized the positive aspects of RPS.
“The school system is way better than it was 11 years ago when I was at Tee Jay,” said Bey.
Bey, who currently works at the Suntrust Mortgage Center where he deals with home foreclosures, outlined his three part campaign platform.
“This should be a city where we can all live comfortably,” said Bey. “I will push strongly for affordable housing, regional transit, and support of our schools.”
CHARLES R. SAMUELS
Driving through Richmond’s Second District, the region that stretches from the Fan to Northside to Jackson Ward, it is hard not to notice the many blue and yellow election signs for Charles R. Samuels.
Samuels is a local attorney who represents veterans and indigent clients in the metro area.
As a Virginia Legal Aid Hotline volunteer and a legal guardian for at-risk youth, Samuels says “he’s forged ties to the community.”
He also leads the other two candidates in campaign funds, with more than $15,000 collected as of October 22.
In his self-introduction, Samuels said he entered politics out of an inner “hunger to help people.”
PATRICK KJELLBERG
Patrick D. Kjellberg is a former talk show radio host from Minnesota who graduated from college with a degree in economics and now works in the home realty business.
In November 2006, Kjellberg was unsuccessful in challenging current City Council Chairman Bill Pantele in the second district race.
In next Tuesday’s special election, Kjellberg hopes to surpass the 30% vote he received two years ago.
Although Richmond city council candidates are elected to serve a four year term, this year Pantele, one of four mayoral candidates, is vacating his seat in hope of becoming Richmond’s next chief executive.
Meanwhile, Kjellberg is competing against Samuels who bears Pantele’s endorsement.
With his campaign message of “finding ways to repopulate our city,” Kjellberg says he is focusing on bringing new development to the area.
Kjellberg, who at age 42 is the oldest of the three candidates, spoke of how local politics directly affect international affairs.
“Having pedestrian communities in Richmond will reduce our demand on foreign oil,” said Kjellberg.
POLITICAL DECORUM
While the candidates disagreed on several issues such as plans for a Richmond baseball stadium and regional transportation solutions, the three men shared similar views on nearly every other topic discussed in the two hour meeting.
And, in a moment of political rarity, each candidate spoke highly of his opponents during closing remarks.
Kjellberg, Bey, and Samuels complimented each other’s strengths as they smiled and shook hands.
“All three of us are great people and no matter who wins, we will work for the people of this district,” said Bey.
Richmond City Council’s three candidates seeking to represent the Second District attended a forum on Monday October 20 at MLWGS. Mr. Irvin Charles attended the meeting and queried the candidates.
Mr. Charles: “What are your personal goals that will help you lead and work for this community?”
Patrick D. Kjellberg, endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police, Richmond Times Dispatch
“Our vacant lots must be developed; we lose five million each year from them. We need
something to attract new tenants and families like a biotechnical magnet high school,” said Kjellberg.
Tyron Bey, endorsed by the REA (Richmond Education Association)
“First and foremost, I would build a community center for this area. I grew up in the Boys and Girls Club and I know how well these programs work,” said Bey. “We also have to cut down on the open air drug markets through continued sector policing.”
Charles R. Samuels, endorsed by the Richmond Firefighter’s Association, Crusade for Voters
“As a former neighborhood president in the Fan, I know we need to fix the non-violent crime problem. I will use the three P’s, personnel, policy, and planning, to do this,” said Samuels.
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