Posted on Sunday, October 8, 2006
Politics

Richmond Mayor

CONTRA COSTA TIMES
By John Geluardi

Richmond's charter does not allow for a strong mayor, but the position does have one important special power: the bully pulpit, which will be critical as Richmond struggles to change its image. There are three experienced candidates running for the post, including incumbent Mayor Irma Anderson, who is seeking her second term. Prior to winning the mayor's seat in 2001, she served two terms as a council member.

Anderson, a former director of Contra Costa County Public Health Nursing, has deep roots in Richmond's black community. She holds the distinction of being Richmond's first black female mayor, and when she was running for the council in 1992, she received more votes than any other candidate in the city's history.

Incumbent Councilwoman Gayle McLaughlin is taking a run for the mayor's seat after one term on the council. McLaughlin surprised local pundits in 2004 when she came in third in a field of 15. McLaughlin, a member of the Green Party, takes no corporate contributions, and her campaigns have a personal touch that rely on precinct walks and house gatherings. McLaughlin's platform emphasizes the needs of working families and calls for more corporate responsibility. [emphasis added]

The third candidate is former Councilman Gary Bell. Bell, who lost his seat in 2004, is the principal owner of First Bankers Mortgage in Richmond. His platform focuses on reducing violence through community policing and a strong emphasis on gun control. He also is a proponent of promoting Richmond to new businesses.

Irma Anderson

Age: Declined to state

Education: Second black student to graduate Cornell School of Nursing

Backgound: Moved to Richmond with her late husband, former Richmond Mayor Booker Anderson, in 1959. Anderson worked most of her career at the Contra Costa County Health Department, eventually becoming the director of Public Health Nursing, the position she retired from in 1992, the same year she first ran for the Richmond City Council.

Gayle McLaughlin

Age: 54

Education: B.A. in psychology from Bridgewater State College, Mass. Graduate study at Rhode Island College and UC Berkeley Extension

Backgound: Taught and tutored children, many with learning disabilities and special needs. Lifelong social activist with interests in environmental health, personal and corporate responsibility. [emphasis added]

Gary Bell

Age: 48

Education: M.B.A. in management from John F. Kennedy University, Orinda; undergraduate degree in liberal arts from Wichita State University

Background: A former Richmond council member who lost re-election in 2004, Bell runs his own mortgage brokerage firm. As a member of the council, Bell served as chairman of the Finance and Economic Development Committee. He has also been treasurer of the Richmond Art Center and chief financial officer of the Rubicon Housing Committee.

Fixing the sewers

Anderson: Previous funding initiatives have improved water treatment and capacity, but for the health of our community and the San Francisco Bay, we have to continue making repairs and upgrades on or sewer system.

McLaughlin: For the sake of public health and the environment, we need to hold Violia Water of North America (sewer management company) responsible. Citizens continue to pay increased rates, and they have the right to a functional sewer system. [emphasis added]

Bell: A lack of maintenance has made the problem much worse. If there's a way for the city to improve and repair the sewer collection system, we should do it, but it has to be done. Delay will increase cost.

Port

Anderson: No taxpayer funds should be spent to study the port expansion, but if investors step forward to fund the study, she will insist the public have input.

McLaughlin: Opposes the port expansion and thinks staff is wasting time when they should be focusing on far more important issues. Financial, environmental and ecological obstacles to port expansion prove its folly. [emphasis added]

Bell: We have to be careful not to kill off ideas without study. Doesn't know enough about it yet to say nay or yay and those who do should wait for the rest of us to catch up.

Chronic violence

Anderson: Is currently collecting signatures for special election measure "Safe Streets Now," which would earmark $6 million of the city's general fund for new police officers and prevention programs.

McLaughlin: Have to address root causes of violence through good, part-time city union jobs for youth in troubled neighborhoods and continuing with community involved policing efforts. [emphasis added]

Bell: We have to focus on the problem and not let the problem work on us. Guns connect these homicides, so we need to establish gun-free zones throughout the city and enforce curfews and loitering laws.

Police station

Anderson: Provided it is healthy and safe, she would prefer the Police Department stay in place while the Hall of Justice is renovated to save the estimated $5 million it will cost to move the department into a temporary building.

McLaughlin: The health of police staff must prevail, but if there's a way we can keep the police in place while the Hall of Justice is renovated, we should do it. We have to proceed on this very carefully. [emphasis added]

Bell: We should consider buying a facility that can be used temporarily as a police department and then either sell to get our money back or use it as a community center.

Reach John Geluardi at 510-262-2787 or jgeluardi@cctimes.com