The gathering was about as polite as politics can get four weeks before Election Day (Nov. 4), as the candidates stayed on their good behavior for the youthful audience. The five men running for mayor of Richmond sat next to one another on a stage in the gymnasium at St. Catherine’s School.

Some 600 seniors from 17 high schools in the area attended the mayoral forum on Mon., Oct. 6. Five students were picked to be on stage to ask each of the candidates a question, the same question. The moderator, Katherine Busser of Capital One (a sponsor of the event), also asked a few questions selected from those submitted by 70 different students.

Each candidate crafted his answer knowing there would be no follow-up questions.

The product this process produced -- mostly feel-good generalities and platitudes -- allowed the audience to get some sense of the candidates’ way of expressing themselves, their body language, but it provided little in the way of specific details.

Thus, the forum at St. Catherine’s was much more about style than it was about substance.

When asked by the moderator about the most important issue facing public schools, Paul Goldman said "the fiscal crisis." Then he went on to say that too many teachers aren’t qualified to teach their subject.
 
Del. Dwight C. Jones lamented an over emphasis on preparing for SOL tests.  

Asked about regional mass transportation, Robert J. Grey, Jr., claimed the counties will participate if we first "clean up City Hall." Councilman William J. "Bill" Pantele said he is "passionate about the issue."

Goldman summed up with, "Somebody’s got to pay for it, and right now there’s no money."

How would the five who would be mayor bring middle class families back into the city?

Jones said, "Improve the educational system."

Pantele disagreed with the premise of the question, "Richmond’s population has been growing."

That, while Lawrence E. Williams talked about Arthur Ashe when he was a child. Then Williams added, "The baseball diamond will someday be Short Pump Central."

With no follow-ups allowed, those in the room who were slightly confused by that answer were left to wonder what Williams meant.

Goldman said, "We need a policy that will create jobs."

Grey said, "People want to see the City run like a business."

Williams seemed the most enthusiastic supporter of the Master Plan; he said he was on the plan’s steering committee and mentioned the Master Plan more than the other four put together.  

Both Grey and Jones frequently lamented the lack of cooperation that has marked the last four years at City Hall, with Council, the School Board and the Mayor’s office, all seemingly more interested in fixing blame on others, than in solving problems.  

Referring to the economy, Goldman promised pay cuts and lay-offs for City employees are coming. Grey thinks more efficiency at City Hall will be needed to get us through tough times ahead.

Pantele complained/joked that he always gets the “baseball issue,” and added that when professional baseball returns to Richmond, it will be played on the Boulevard, in roughly the same area where he Diamond is now.

With mention of the controversial Echo Harbor project, Williams said there will be no new high-rises built on the river’s bank.  

Grey called for the “de-concentration of public housing.”

Pantele said, “I have devoted my life toward making Richmond a better place.”

One question gave the candidates the most trouble. Adrian Redding (Southside Baptist Christian Church) asked, “If we were in a time of civil unrest and you were given emergency powers to stop the situation, how would you go about handling it?”

Goldman japed, “I wouldn’t get the police to throw the school board out of City Hall.”

Williams, Grey and Jones shrugged and spoke of reaching out to the community for help.

Pantele recalled, “I’ve been in the middle of Broad Street when it was in flames.” Then he wound up with: “Do right ... be present ... be decisive."

With many voters in Richmond rather unhappy with the autocratic style Mayor Doug Wilder has displayed at times, serving as Richmond’s first strong, directly-elected mayor since 1948, it was obvious the five were avoiding saying anything that would sound like a power-hungry sound bite.   

There were no big gaffes or laughs. At no time did it seem that one candidate was the favorite of those assembled.

The same five men will face another set of questions on Oct. 9, 7:15 a.m. to 9 a.m., at Willow Oaks Country Club. It will be hosted by the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce.