It was a chance to see them up close. Shake their hands. Hear, firsthand, what they actually thought about the issues that matter to the citizens of Richmond.
Yet for several of the residents who attended a Thursday night mayoral candidate "listening," it was more of the former and not enough of the latter.
The forum, put on by the Coalition for Greater Richmond and held at Plant Zero in Manchester, offered more than 50 residents the chance to voice their concerns while the five certified mayoral candidates listened, took notes and were later given five minutes to respond to everything.
Each also got a chance to give an opening statement to the diverse crowd, which often took notes of their own, enjoyed light food and alcohol and showed no signs of shyness. Several current and hopeful City Council and School Board members also attended as well as prominent community members Jim Ukrop and state Senator Henry Marsh, D-Richmond.
The emcee, former TV anchor Lisa Lafata, took questions from the audience on several topics.
On education, people asked about the inequalities in education at the different city schools; the immediate need for new buildings and technological advances; whether the Richmond Public Schools Board should be appointed or elected (the crowd overwhelming thought it should be elected); the need for more vocational education; and the character and community development of children.
On crime, people repeatedly said the crowded jail was an embarrassing joke.
On affordable housing, people questioned the abilities of the Richmond Redevelopment Housing Authority to manage 10,000 plus people in 4,000 housing units; and the challenges of cleaning up low income housing, such as Dove and Gilpin courts, and finding new places for those residents to live when those areas become unaffordable because of the cleanup.
On transportation, residents complained about pot holes and the lack of efficient and regional public transportation. They also spoke of the importance of the Downtown Master Plan, saying that they hope the next mayor would continue its work.
Teen pregnancy also received a lot of attention with residents asking both what the next mayor would do as far as sex education in schools and encouraging parents to take more responsibility.
Here's how the candidates responded:
60
State delegate and minister who's lived in Richmond since 1965
In his opening statement, Jones said he was passionate about Richmond and that he has worked hard in the General Assembly for 14 years as well as on the Richmond Public Schools Board as its chairman.
While others talk of doing great things in Richmond, Jones said he has already done great things.
In response to the issues, Jones said no city can be great without a world class education system.
"I'm a product of a system that failed me," he said. "When I attended Virginia Union University, I had to take remedial classes. I think the generation that follows deserves more."
He said would push for developing schools where competition between them fostered improved education for children. But he didn't want to criticize the schools, saying they had done what they had been told to do.
New middle schools need to be built, Jones said, because that's where we begin to lose kids.
On the issue of whether the citizens selected a "strong" mayor, as current Mayor L. Douglas Wilder calls it, or an elected, at-large mayor, Jones said no. The citizens voted for an at-large mayor who should be a leader who leads by examples of cooperation.
The city can't afford to "throw people away," Jones said, when it redevelops public housing properties. It needs to replace each housing unit as it redevelops or removes one, he said.
The city also needs a pediatric hospital because it's the only city of its size not to have one.
On transportation, Jones said he was jealous of Norfolk.
"They're getting light rail," he said. "We need to do something about regional cooperation and it falls to the mayor to set the proper relationships with the region."
When asked why he was running, Jones said it was often hard to see the fruits of his labor at the General Assembly, and that he was tired of hearing talk of Richmond's potential. He wanted to see that potential realized now.
49
Council president and attorney who's a native Richmonder
In his opening statement, Pantele said that the government was here to serve the citizens.
He is unaware of any other time in the city's history when there have been so much turnovers in the highest offices, including the offices of council, mayor, schools, the chamber of commerce and the Retail Merchants Association.
"Who has the best experience, commitment and desire to take the city forward? For the past seven years, I have given every ounce of effort I have," he said.
He touted his efforts to increase downtown development, reduce the tax rate and implement city agency audits, which, he promised, would be implemented his first day in office if elected.
"We need to change the culture of City Hall," he said. "As your mayor, I'm going to ask, 'How can we make it happen?'"
In response to the issues, Pantele said it doesn't matter if the citizens elected a strong, medium or weak mayor because "you deserve a great mayor and that's what I will be for you."
Pantele agreed with Jones that the city cannot talk about fixing poverty in the city while ignoring people who become homeless when public housing units are redeveloped. The city also needs a mayor who will grow the tax base and not be "absentee" because he doesn't know what to do.
Given the turnover in city offices, Pantele said he would have a leg up because he already has the experience and established relationships with the region, including being on every regional board.
He pointed out that when he first joined council, members didn't talk with the School Board, but now they do in addition to getting along well with each despite differing opinions.
62
Attorney who's lived in Richmond since 1966
In his opening statement, Goldman told the crowd that when he first came up with the idea of an elected mayor and wrote the City of the Future plan, he predicted positive changes, such as a reduction in crime.
He criticized the administration and council as being one of the most unnecessarily expensive. He also emphasized modernization of all the schools and the school system.
"I think we've wasted too many lives in this city," he said. "If elected, I will change that."
Responding to the issues, Goldman asked, "All these people want to be mayor, but who was actually the person who put the vision out there?
"Who had the vision 10 years ago? They were happy with the appointed mayor," he said of his fellow candidates.
He pointed out that problems with the schools aren't recently. They've been around for 60 years, he said, so why hasn't anything been done already?
Goldman, a former Democratic Party chairman, said the party sued him because he wanted to give equal rights to women and blacks.
"Now that's vision," he said.
Richmond should be the destination city for southern women, he said, adding that there should be a monument for women on Monument Avenue. They should also tell Fredericksburg, where Wilder wants to build a slavery museum, that Richmond is the place to tell the history of slavery, not Fredericksburg.
Goldman said he was also the only candidate who was against the Echo Harbour project on the river because he wants to preserve the riverfront views for residents.
He said he also backed vocational education for students.
As someone who's often worked behind the scenes of the campaigns of former Gov. Mark Warner, Gov. Timothy Kaine and Wilder, Goldman was asked why he was running.
"Now it's my turn," he said. "We need someone who's a consumer advocate and who has a master's degree in public administration. I would reinstitute the Richmond Unity Council so citizens could meet with top city officials every three weeks."
55
Architect and native Richmonder
In his opening statement, Williams said that any city could be big or great, but his goal was to make Richmond the most livable city.
He said it was time to focus on the neighborhoods and that he and Jones were the only two people who'd actually been in the trenches working in the city with development companies for more than 20 years.
"Ask yourself if you want a mayor who only understands the politics or who also understands how to get things done," he said.
In responding to the issues, he told the crowd that as a graduate of Richmond Public Schools and his work, he understands both the common man and the boardroom.
"We need to stop talking about the schools and make the changes in the neighborhoods. That's where the issues are," he said.
"It's great to talk about vision, but we also need someone who knows how to get schools built."
Williams wants to put some social services in middle schools because that's the place where mothers go to strengthen their families, he said.
Williams also wants to move the jail, perhaps putting it near Philip Morris so the company can give inmates training and so psychological services could be offered.
"Fundamentally, we need to focus on our neighborhoods. We've had lawyers and preachers. We need a new profession," he said of those in the mayoral position.
Robert Grey Jr.
57
Partner at Hunton and Williams law firm and native Richmonder
In his opening statement, Grey said he wanted to unite Richmond and realize its greatness by tapping into every resource of each citizen and institution.
"It's about the future," he said. "You need someone who will challenge the status quo and makes changes where changes are needed … so the greatness shines through."
In response to the issues, Grey said it's a new beginning and it's time to take charge and give back services to the citizens who deserve it.
"We have a city that doesn't use money properly. I'm going to make changes and challenge the status quo," he said. "We need to make a plan for neighborhoods as well."
Unlike the other candidates, Grey said that citizens did elect a "strong" mayor to make sure they get their services and bring all the parties to the table.
When asked about his lack of a political background, Grey said that was a fair question.
"As Bar Association president, I worked with 531 attorneys all saying 'We know Robert's Rules of Law,' so you better be able to find common ground," he said.
"Can I run this city? You bet I can."
Steve Hawthorne, 47, of Springhill, said he thought the event was a neat way to personally meet the candidates and hear what they have to say.
"I think Paul Goldman was a lot more passionate and animated than what I thought. Like he said, I think it's his time," he said. "The same with Pantele. You usually seem him sitting down and being a referee. It was nice to see him stand up and talk."
During the event, Leah Walker, a 31-year-old mother of two in Jackson Ward, asked the candidates about improving the school system. The schools are the number one reason people move out of the city, she said, adding that even though her husband is a city teacher, she might be doing the same if things don't change.
After the event, she said she came because she wanted to hear their answers firsthand, but was disappointed with some of the responses.
"I felt like I got stump speeches as opposed to comments about the issues," she said. "Dwight Jones was the only one who addressed the issues point by point. I give him a lot of credit because the others really missed an opportunity to talk to the people about what they're passionate about."