The Greater Richmond Chamber hosted the mayoral candidates for a question-and-answer session at its breakfast meeting this morning. A few impressions:

(1) Pity the event was held on Yom Kippur, when Paul Goldman couldn’t attend.

(2) Bill Pantele came across as the most knowledgeable. Regarding the question as to whether the candidates supported a regional transportation authority, for instance, Pantele spoke to the details of the proposal, unlike the others.

(3) Dwight Jones gave the most unexpected answer. Asked about the role of regional businesses in improving the city schools, Jones said, although there was no need for him to say, that he used to be a “public-school purist,“ but that, having visited city schools recently, he found himself asking if he would send his children to city schools now and decided: no, he would not. It was time, he said, to “change the paradigm” and look to public-private partnerships and Milwaukee (where school vouchers are operative).

(4) Lawerence Williams gave the least pandering answer of the session. While the other candidates repeatedly emphasized their support for mass transit, including rail, Williams noted that rail is extremely expensive and requires critical population density to make it affordable.

(5) None of the candidates gave a direct and serious answer to the question about where he would cut the city budget, as the next mayor might need to do. Williams came the closest by mentioning procurement costs for, e.g., elevator service—but even if elevator installation is grossly overcharged for, how many elevators does the city install in a given year? Jones gave the most entertaining answer, when he said he would cut the mayor’s entourage—“there’s a million”—and end the lawsuits—“there’s another million.“

(6) Maggie Walker senior Danny Yates asked about the controversy regarding minority enrollment at the school. Pantele said it was the first he’d heard of the issue. That was a little surprising to hear from someone who is supposedly so in tune with what’s happening in the city. Jones again got in a good line, when he noted that it shouldn’t take a $70,000 study by outside consultants to diversify the school, and he probably would have been willing to do it for half that amount.

(7) You’ll note no mention has been made so far of Robert Grey. He was present and answered questions, in his own elegant manner, but his answers could have been made at any forum for any election. He spoke of the need to increase the level of professionalism in government, and to do all we can to provide great services, and to make all voices heard, and to recognize that it’s time for results, not words, and that it is time to stop talking and start doing, and we need to bring experience to bear, and to work with all the communities in the city, and to rely on people of goodwill to provide leadership, and so on. Fine sentiments all. But it will be hard for the next mayor to govern by platitudes alone.

More comedy club action, just new comedians. How about a subway? New ballpark for a semi-pro baseball team?

BTW, a solution for Maggie Walker diversity problem:

FROM WEBSITE: “"A profile including assessment results will be created for each applicant.

Category Maximum Points
Recommendations 15
Grades 25
Program Rigor 10
Standardized Ability Tests 22.5
Standardized Achievement Test 12.5
Writing Sample 15
Total Points 100

Following a review of the student applications/profiles, the MLWGS Planning Committee will establish the regional minimum composite score required for admission.“”

SOLUTION:  Reduce the points for writing to 10, grades to 15 and ability testing to 15. Add 22.5 for race.

Thanks for the detailed summary! It looks to me that the financial solution Dwight Jones offered (you say humorously) WAS a serious one. At least one that should be taken seriously.

Does the mayor of Richmond VA really need a round-the-clock security detail of paid police officers, for example? I shouldn’t have even asked that—any adult knows that is stupid & wasteful. Mayor of a small southern town, for Pete’s Sake…..

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