Posted on Wednesday, November 8, 2006

McLaughlin Leading Anderson in
Richmond Mayoral Race

CONTRA COSTA TIMES
By John Geluardi

City Councilwoman Gayle McLaughlin, a Green Party member, appears to have squeaked out a victory over incumbent Irma Anderson to become Richmond's next mayor. McLaughlin was ahead by just under 200 votes when the final precinct tally was announced just after 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, though an unknown number of votes, including absentee ballots turned in at the polls Tuesday, had yet to be counted.

Shortly after hearing the news, McLaughlin said she was ready to "roll up her sleeves and get to work."

"This is a clear signal that Richmond residents want to go in a new direction," McLaughlin said. "It's the interest of the people that have spoken, and they are clearly standing up for their own interests by electing someone whose values and visions are in line with their own. I feel very honored."

McLaughlin, 54, represents a new type of Richmond politician. Making use of a grass-roots campaign style, she was able to tap into voter dissatisfaction with Richmond politics that intensified in 2004 when the city suddenly discovered a crippling $35 million budget deficit.

Voters were motivated by the fact that McLaughlin refused to take corporate donations. As of the last reporting deadline, she had only spent about $14,000 on her campaign. By contrast, Anderson, 75, whose campaign received a great deal of money from Chevron and numerous other corporations, spent more than $110,000.

McLaughlin was new to politics when she was elected to the council in 2004. At that time, she had relatively little political experience and has a background as a teacher and political activist.

Anderson and the City Council made some difficult decisions during the budget crisis that included laying off nearly 300 employees and cutting city services to the bone. With the help of new City Manager Bill Lindsay and Finance Director Jim Goins, the city has regained its financial stability. But Anderson was not able to shake the fact that she was the top elected official when the city was blundering toward the crisis. In addition, she has been increasingly criticized by other council members, who have complained she is a poor consensus builder and too quick to take credit for accomplishments that the entire council worked on.

Gary Bell, the third mayoral candidate, was the only member to be voted off the council in 2004. In his attempt to win the mayor's seat, he was a dogged campaigner but finished nearly 1,700 votes behind Anderson, 1,900 behind McLaughlin.

The city's charter does not allow for a strong mayor, but as Richmond struggles to reshape its image, the next mayor will play a critical role in promoting positive changes.

The city is in the midst of a major redevelopment project along Macdonald Avenue that includes new residential and commercial development in the long-depressed downtown area. It also includes new streetscapes, lighting and senior housing in the high-crime Iron Triangle neighborhood. The city also is about to kick off a major rehabilitation of the prized Civic Center and build a new, state-of-the-art police station.

The mayor and City Council also will have development issues to contend with in the next four years. Perhaps the most important is how to develop Point Molate, a scenic stretch of mostly undeveloped waterfront property. The city sold the land to a casino developer, though it still is uncertain if he will be able to get the property approved for Indian gaming.

The next mayor also will have to be very proactive in working with the council to put forth effective anti-violence programs. There have been 38 homicides so far this year, and in a recent survey the city was named among the most dangerous in the country and state. The chronic high homicide rate in Richmond is perhaps the single largest obstacle to overcoming a deeply ingrained negative reputation that prevents new, job-creating businesses from locating here.

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