RICHMOND GLOBE
November 29 - December 5, 2006

Anderson’s Legacy Yields to
McLaughlin’s Progressive Ideals

By Clifford L. Williams,
Globe Political Analyst

In a sobering statement last week, Richmond Mayor Irma Anderson conceded the recent mayoral election to City Councilwoman Gayle McLaughlin with grace and dignity

"I congratulate Councilmember Gayle McLaughlin on her victory and will work closely with her to ensure a smooth transition,” said Anderson. “The voters have opted for a different vision for Richmond . I join the community and my council colleagues in pledging to work with Richmond’s next mayor to ensure that Richmond continues to move forward."

"It has been my privilege to serve the residents of Richmond for the past five years as mayor. During that time, our city faced many challenges, necessitating tough decisions that I made for the health and well-being our community."

“I would like to thank all of my supporters for their commitment to our vision for Richmond,” Anderson said. “With the campaign now behind us all, it is time to get back to work to bring Richmond the renaissance it deserves."

McLaughlin responded, noting that her victory was “a clarion call for taking a new direction in Richmond." "I am extremely excited and honored to have been selected as the new mayor of our extraordinary city,” she said. "The results were very close, and the slim margin of victory only strengthens our determination to reach out to the voters who supported other candidates and invite them to join us in building a better Richmond. We need and welcome everyone in this effort.

“I commend my opponents, Gary Bell and Mayor Anderson, for their participation in the race,” said McLaughlin. “They are both deeply committed to our city and I look forward to their continuing involvement in civic affairs.”]

McLaughlin said her first 100 days will focus on bringing together the community to work collectively. “Determining ways to develop together as a community will be a major theme throughout my administration,” said McLaughlin. “I am confident that we, as a city, with our full array of cultural diversity and our great wealth of talented and innovated people, will come together to nurture our common interests. I anticipate our objectives and aspirations reaching new peaks,” she said.

McLaughlin also noted that violence prevention will remain central to her efforts. “I have already begun to bring together community volunteers to brainstorm and explore a structure for creating the Richmond Youth Corps to advance job and education opportunities for our young people,” she said. “We will need to develop a multi-layered structure that expands into many avenues of implementation.

“I also look forward to advancing the many community efforts already underway promoting violence prevention, environmental justice, education, the arts and so many other important needs and issues. “Civic involvement is essential for building our better Richmond,” McLaughlin said. “I will be networking with the many individuals and groups that have already expressed a desire to help, and welcome everyone to join in this effort going forward.

“Hundreds of campaign volunteers and donors made this election possible,” said McLaughlin. “I cannot stress enough how the ‘Gayle McLaughlin for Mayor’ campaign was about a shared vision and not about an individual candidate.
“I am proud to represent that vision, and as mayor, I will devote everything I have to creating our better Richmond.”