By now, most Richmonders have heard about the numerous people running for local office. More than 30 different people declared that they want to represent YOU either in the mayor's office, City Council or the School Board.
After taking a look at the potential mayors, Richmond.com wondered about each of the city's unique districts. Sliced up into nine diverse and oddly shaped pieces, each one has its own needs and concerns about what would make it and the city better. Some districts cover a relatively homogenous group of people while others span areas so different you wonder how two people can possibly represent all those varying viewpoints.
So twice a month, between now and November, Richmond.com is taking a look at each district to tell you what it encompasses and what the priorities are for the people vying to look out for your interests at City Hall. Today we look at District 1 / West End.
District 1 covers what's known as the West End part of town, from the Boulevard west to Patterson Avenue and River Road and south from Cary Street to W. Broad Street on the north. It includes Munford Elementary School, Hill Middle School and the high schools of Richmond Community and Jefferson.
There are several historic and active civic and district associations representing parts of the area, including the Fan District Association and the Museum District Association. District 1 also includes the popular Carytown, with dozens of unique shops and eateries, offers hours of shopping, dining and just checking out the shops.
In Richmond's growing blog scene, there are at least three that solely represent parts of this area: http://nearwestendnews.net/, http://fdhub.net/ and http://wotbn.net/.
Councilman Bruce Tyler, 55, is a principal at Baskervill, an architectural, engineering and interior design firm. He was first elected to council last year and is running unopposed this year. Kim Bridges, 42, is the public relations coordinator for the Central Virginia FoodBank. She's also serving her first term on School Board and running unopposed this year.
Both point to their constant communication with each other as an example of how things should be and how they best represent the people of the first district.
"We meet on regular basis and have dialogue," Tyler said. "We constantly exchange dialogue with regards to issues, trying to make sure we have our bases covered. As a result, we've formed a pretty good team to represent our district and our city."
Bridges describes their district as very involved, caring and seeming to understand the complexities of the school issues.
"They're willing to listen to all sides. I've found it to be such a pleasant experience because I know it's not always the case in the political world," she said.
"People are really willing to listen and consider the factors and be invested. Overall, the district is well-educated and keeps informed with what's going on. They're very supportive."
As far as the most important issues to the district, Bridges sees two: parental and community involvement in middle and high schools and helping new principals at Community and Thomas Jefferson high schools get to know the area.
"There's tremendous involvement in elementary schools, but middle and high schools are less well known although the programs are great and we have wonderful options for people," she said.
"So I think the more people know about Albert Hill, TJ and Community options, the more they'll consider it as option for their kids. I will have two kids at Hill in the fall. It's a great school and I want to see it get as widely recognized as Mary Munford."
For Tyler, it's "roads, roads, roads," and "drainage, drainage, drainage."
"The lack of proper paving. It's very frustrating as a councilman to see the lack of maintenance on roads when I know the money has been appropriated, and at the same time no action taken place," he said.
"Drainage is a signficant issue in the first and we need to go ahead and get the infrastucutre in place and be done with it."
A third priority of lesser importance, Tyler said, is being respectful of the urban environment by creating urban-like settings that function properly. Tyler gives the examples of replacing trees that were cut, keeping trash cans where they belong and not blocking critical rights-of-way that need to be maintained and keep the area looking good.
Citywide, both see overarching issues that need to be addressed and question how the turnover in the mayor's office, School Board, schools' administration and City Council will affect the city.
"I think systemwide it's a crucial time for Richmond Public Schools to go through the leadership transition that we're going to be going through. It makes this a really interesting time," Bridges said. "After eight years with schools, I really think it's the tipping point and I want to help push schools into a positive direction. I'm not saying it's not going into a positive direction, but because it could go a number of ways. I really hope to be very involved in pushing thing in the right direction."
Tyler agreed, saying that he's looking for a mayor who wants to build bridges and a community.
"The reality is that we need to move the city foward and I'm looking for someone in mayoral position to work with and not fight against," he said. "I'm looking for someone who truly wants to roll their sleeves up and address all the issues and not try come about from a bully pulpit."
Citywide, the most important issue facing the city are the large concentrations of poverty, Tyler said. The housing market needs to be diversified economically and socially for the city to be successful in the long run, he said.
"Everything flows from that issue, along with the fact that we need to deal with teen pregnancies, and unwanted pregnancies, as a city issue," he said.
"The number of kids born into this world, unfortunately with single parents, find themselves not having the opporunities in life that others have. A part of that is the need for individuals to take responsibility for their actions. The city can't do it alone."
A third issue, he said, is that the city is driving out its middle class with high taxes, and that it needs to get its tax structure within 10 percent of the counties to foster diversity, economic development and allow the city to become vibrant.
Bridges said that she and Tyler are in an interesting position since they are unopposed, because it gives them more time to continue the work they're already doing.
"Being unoppposed, it doesn't mean we're any less engaged with voters, but it does give us the ability to continue to work on issues, whereas others may have to be more distracted by fundraising and vote-getting," she said.
"I think we're in a really good position to continue to build on some of the stuff we do together. I'd like to see our relationship, between council person and school board member, emulated across the district. We meet regulary and talk about city and school issues that impact each other. (Such meetings) are not always the case. I hope we can help build those bridges elsewhere too."
Meet the Other Districts:
