All seven Richmond City Council candidates met face-to-face this week for the first election forum of the season, debating topics including the city’s business climate, public safety and the recent $550 million Chevron settlement.

The League of Women Voters of West Contra Costa County event Wednesday night was co-sponsored by the Richmond Chamber of Commerce, the city’s NAACP chapter and Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA). Carolyn Wysinger, League of Women Voters and Mayor Pro Tem for El Cerrito, was the moderator.

Each candidate opened with a personal introduction before a question-and-answer session addressing the three election districts’ economic outlook, the role of neighborhood councils, public safety and the recent tax settlement with Chevron.

A lightning round was held at the end, giving candidates just 30 seconds to summarize their views on issues such as rent control, the ballot voting initiatives and whether they supported Measure U, a gross receipts tax approved by voters in 2020.

For D.C. Alcala, a District 6 resident who moved to Richmond three years ago, the event comes at a critical time.

“It really helps me to think about things,” Alcala said. “Especially information I wasn’t aware about like Measure U and the large settlement with Chevron, what’s going to happen with that.”

Alcala, a mental health advocate who works in North Richmond, said that she came into the forum open to what the candidates had to say. She had seen District 6 candidate Shawn Dunning, who is running against incumbent Claudia Jimenez, around her neighborhood.

“I wanted to hear what everyone had to say. It is extremely important. I care about this community and felt like I didn’t really know the scene,” Alcala said. “It is nice that they put this on, and it is a great opportunity to see the people, hear the players and know what’s going on now that there is so little local news.”

District 1: Iron Triangle and Belding Woods

Kicking off the event were the District 1 candidates, Jamelia Brown, Mark Wassberg and incumbent Melvin Willis. District 1 is the neighborhoods of the Iron Triangle and Belding Woods.

Brown said her goals if elected are to “restore the hope” that she feels has been lost. Activating underutilized areas in the district, which decades ago was the commercial hub of the city, while also creating incentives for businesses to stay, were economic issues she mentioned.

“We need to diversify our tax revenue in our city,” she said. “We need to provide a strategy to develop incentives for small businesses.”

Brown said that public safety is the most important issue for neighborhood residents.

“Safety across all platforms is number one,” she said. “Unless we get that understood then we won’t have anything going accordingly.”

Wassberg, a constant presence at city council meetings, took a hard stand against council members who belong to the Richmond Progressive Alliance, a local grassroots political action group which has gained considerable political influence in the city over its 20 years in existence. He’s specifically targeted Willis and council members who support RPA-backed initiatives such as Measure U, the Chevron tax settlement and last year’s Gaza resolution to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people.

“The bottom line is that you need to get the RPA out if you want to bring in businesses to see a change,” he said. “This is the problem we have with the city council. They don’t believe in big business.”

Willis defended Measure U, which he said was approved by more than 70% of voters. He is a member of the RPA.

District 1 Richmond City Council candidates (scroll with arrows to view)

“I can say that I’ve seen new businesses open up with that progressive tax structure,” he said. 

He said he hopes he can continue to see the business license application process become more manageable.

 “I think evaluating what those barriers are and just making them more user friendly for businesses and seeing what their needs are and how we are accommodating to that, not creating any more bureaucratic barriers, would be essential,” he said.

Willis said that since the council approved the $550 million settlement with Chevron he’s been talking to his constituents, knocking on doors to tell them how to give input into the council’s budgeting process in light of the added revenue.

“Doing specific outreach. Publicizing more, not just digitally but through mail or postcard because we still have a senior population that is not necessarily technologically inclined,” he said, explaining what remains to be done to get citizen input. “Making sure that we are reaching those folks as much as possible and getting that input so that when it comes to budgeting our priorities and figuring out what services need to go where, we are making an intentional effort to get that community feedback before we even release the draft.”

Brown said she has been endorsed by former mayors Tom Butt and Nat Bates as well as former council member Demnlus Johnson III. She also said she has received endorsements from the local trade unions.

In similar fashion to other RPA-backed candidates, Willis said he did not receive or solicit any corporate donations. He said he’s endorsed by the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County and the Richmond Fire Fighters Union Local 188, the Sierra Club and Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE). 

Wassberg said he has only raised $500 total during his campaign, financing most of it himself.

District 5: Marina Bay, Eastshore, Parkview, Richmond Annex, Southwest Annex, Panhandle Annex, Cortez/Stege and Laurel Park

District 5 Richmond City Council candidates (scroll with arrows to view)

Ahmad Anderson and Sue Wilson are competing for the seat being vacated by longtime Richmond political figure Gayle McLaughlin, who announced in June that she would not be seeking reelection. The district will be electing its first newcomer since district elections were established in 2020.

Wilson, who was endorsed by McLaughlin, is originally from Detroit but moved to Richmond in 2006 while working as an organizer with local labor movements. An RPA member, she has worked on local campaigns relating to rent control and the environment.

Wilson said that Richmond should not just focus on business but on attracting the right kind of businesses and said that the city has positioned itself for better days in light of the $550 million Chevron deal, funds which over 10 years are intended to compensate the city for the environmental impacts of its oil refining operations. The city will receive $50 million per year for five years and $60 million per year for five years.

“What that means is that we are not a wealthy city, but we aren’t a poor city anymore. That’s going to give us a chance to provide better city services that I think make this a more attractive place for people to live,” she said. “I don’t think we want to be in the fossil fuel business forever. We need to really find those businesses that are going to be moving us forward along green, clean energy lines. We need grocery stores and other things that are highly targeted.”

Anderson, who was born and raised in Richmond and is the son of two former mayors, touted his business experience, saying that if elected he would make sure there would be oversight of the $550 million that Chevron will eventually pay the city.

“We need to have an oversight committee that makes sure we hold people responsible with transparency to make sure we don’t abuse that money,” he said. “We need direction and guidance from someone like myself who has worked with the city, been involved, done the work in the community.”

Anderson said some of the money should go toward giving city staff their cost of living salary increases which have been put on hold for budgetary reasons.

Additionally, Anderson said although he will represent District 5 and will be connected to the local neighborhood councils, he believes that council members represent the city as a whole. He said he’d like to meet with residents outside of his district — with their council member’s blessing — to understand their needs as well.

Wilson said she is endorsed by Contra Costa County Supervisor John Gioia, five current city council members, all the city unions, Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE), the United Teachers of Richmond, Fire Fighters Local 188 and the Contra Costa County Labor Council.

Former mayors Tom Butt and Nat Bates have endorsed Anderson in addition to mayors from San Pablo, Pinole, El Cerrito and Albany.

District 6: North & East, East Richmond

District 6 incumbent Jimenez and challenger Dunning wrapped up the event’s individual district discussions.

District 6 Richmond City Council candidates (scroll with arrows to view)

Jimenez, who is originally from Colombia but migrated to Richmond to pursue an environmental planning degree at UC Berkeley, was elected to her position in 2020 and is currently vice mayor. She is also a member of the RPA.

She pointed to victories to bring more revenue to the city’s budget during her tenure on the council, most notably her involvement with the ad-hoc committee that negotiated the $550 million Chevron settlement.

Dunning, who ran for mayor in 2022 but lost to Eduardo Martinez, is a conflict resolution specialist and educator.

He said that if elected he would make sure that all voices are heard no matter their local group affiliation — taking a jab at the fact that a majority of the current City Council members belong to the RPA.

The candidates had opposing views on the economic development of the city as it specifically pertains to Measure U. 

Referencing recent litigation over tax increases for Hilltop Mall car dealerships, Dunning said that the measure is unfair to those businesses. Although he doesn’t disagree with having a gross receipts tax, he said the percentages were not appropriate and that residents who voted for it didn’t understand the scope.

“The fine print led to car dealerships in Richmond going from paying a business license fee of $14,000 to $1 million overnight. That is not fair,” he said.

Jimenez, who actively campaigned for Measure U, said that although there are things that need to be adjusted — specifically citing the car dealership situation — the measure hasn’t deterred businesses from opening.

“If you have less, you pay less and if you have more, you pay more,” she said, referring to how the tax is based on a business’ income. “We just had a new car dealership coming to Hilltop. During my term, four new businesses have opened in San Pablo Avenue so we are doing what we can to promote and support businesses.”

When asked about public safety, Jimenez said that her role on the council has led to increased investment into the Office of Neighborhood Safety and the creation of the Community Crisis Response Program.

“This is so people have another resource in ways that only one department can’t do,” she said. “I am committed to continue to advocate for going to the root cause of violence so we can have a city that continues to make improvements with the results of the data.”

Dunning said that, although there have been fewer homicides in recent years, the most talked about topic he heard from residents about has been public safety — safe streets and property safety.

“I’ve talked to folks who have lived here all of their lives, and they say that they feel less safe now than when there were 60 murders a year,” he said. “You ask them why and they say ‘Well, years ago I felt like if I call police they would be there.’ ”

Richmond’s deadliest year was in 1991 when there were 62 homicides. In 2023, the city recorded eight homicides, an all-time low of homicides.

Jimenez said she is endorsed by Gioia, four of the current city council members, the Contra Costa Labor Council, Firefighter Local 188, which she said had previously spent money campaigning against her. She is also endorsed by all city unions, the local Young Democrats chapter and USW Local 5, which represents Chevron workers.

Dunning said he is endorsed by former city council members John Marquez, the 23rd Street Merchants Association, former mayors and council members of Richmond and neighboring city mayors and the Contra Costa Building Trades Council.

You have 30 seconds to answer: Go!

Do you support Measure U?

Brown: “Yes and No. I’m in the middle.”

Wassberg: “No because it is destroying big businesses because the businesses are paying three-, seven-, eight-fold on taxes because this is what the RPA wants.”

Willis: “Yes I support Measure U.”

Anderson: “I didn’t support Measure U. I was economic development commissioner and want to see where the money is. What the impact is. What we’ve retained and what we have brought in and what are we doing to move forward to improve it.”

Wilson: “Yes because voters voted for Measure U because it lowers taxes for the smallest businesses and puts fair taxes on the largest businesses.”

Dunning: “I support the theory of the structure of Measure U but not the existing numbers within it.”

Jimenez: “Yes. Voters voted for it, and it has been great for the businesses here.”

Do you support ranked-choice voting, primaries or the status quo?

Jimenez: “I voted to put ranked-choice on the ballot and I don’t support RERA (Richmond Election Reform Act).”

Dunning: “Over 10,000 people put the primary option on the ballot. Seven people sitting up here put the ranked-choice option on the ballot. Ranked choice in theory makes sense for a mathematician, but in practice it doesn’t turn out often the way it’s intended to. There’s a poison pill for Richmond’s ranked-choice bill which is even if it passes, our city council may decide we cannot afford to implement it.”

Wilson: “I support ranked-choice voting because it gives you the benefits of a run-off election but does it in one election in November so more people participate. I oppose RERA, the primary system, because 10,000 people in Richmond may vote in November but they don’t vote in our primaries, which take place in March and June. We don’t want to disenfranchise those folks with the primary system.  

Anderson: “Don’t support ranked-choice voting. I’m a primary individual. I’d say ranked-choice lacks the education and awareness. It’s like eeny, meeny, miny, moe and that’s not how government should go.”

Willis: “Because the past couple of primary elections I had to pull teeth for the first Black woman district attorney in Contra Costa’s history, and there were still people who were saying ‘Nah, I’m cool on voting,’ I support ranked-choice voting because at least we can guarantee that the maximum amount of voters will show up to make their voices heard.”

Wassberg:: “I believe that everyone has a right to run for office as long as they are qualified.”

Brown: “I support ranked-choice voting.”

Did you support the Chevron Refinery Tax?

Anderson: “I support the refinery tax, however, I still believe that, although we have gone in the right direction to make sure polluters pay their fair tax, we still need oversight to where that money goes. We need to hold people accountable.”

Wilson: “I did support the Make Polluters Pay Refinery Tax when that was being planned for the November ballot. I thought it was a great idea but I’m really happy that because Chevron felt the pressure from the organizing around that measure they agreed to pay a half billion dollars to this city in taxes without having to take it to a ballot measure.”

Dunning: “It is a non-sequitur because it is not on the ballot anymore. I will say that if I was on the council and a measure was brought to me that would ensure that the air coming out of Chevron was cleaner as a result of what we were voting on, I would absolutely, 100% be behind that. But that is not what it was about, it was disingenuous. Chevron gave us $550 million. That’s great, we’ll take it. They gave it to us so that we will go away and leave them alone for 10 years. It is not sustainable.”

Jimenez: “Yes I co-authored that along with Eduardo Martinez, the mayor. Let me tell you, it wasn’t for making a reduction in pollution. That is not on the table to negotiate or get millions of dollars instead of them reducing pollution. This was not about that. It was about increasing the taxes and increasing revenue in the city so we have the means for a just transition from a fossil fuel economy to a green one.”

Brown: “I supported initially the Polluters Pay however we can’t tax our way out of things. I hear so much on everyone’s wish list about the settlement which will go into the General Fund. That further lets me know that we need to get that advisory board on the way so we know where those funds will be placed.”  

Wassberg: “No, all these lies about Chevron causing asthma and polluting Richmond is all a pack of lies by the RPA. They want to come up here and brainwash the people about all these children getting asthma and dying. It’s all a bunch of pack of lies. It’s what they want to do. They want to tax big businesses, and this is why big businesses are not moving here to Richmond. It’s a pack of lies by the idiots on City Council.”

Willis: “Yes I did support the Refinery Tax.”

Do you support the Richmond Rent Board policies?

Willis: “Yes I support the Richmond Rent Board policies.”

Wassberg: “First of all you have to be careful with the rent control because you don’t want to destroy the real estate market. You destroy the real estate market, you destroy Richmond. We know for a fact that the RPA is out to destroy the real estate market. They are just a bunch of radicals and they know what they are doing. It is ridiculous. The problem is you are going to have landlords who are going to suffer.”

Brown: “Yes I support the Richmond Rent Board policies but I still have sensitivity to mom and pop landlords here in Richmond that they also need support.”

Dunning: “I support the principles of rent control and just cause for eviction. I believe Richmond’s current approach to that is over the top, and it is leading to fewer rental units being on the market because of it. So I don’t support the way it’s being implemented in Richmond but I support the principles of it.”

Jimenez: “Yes, I support the policies of the rent board.”

Anderson: “As someone who has lived in this community all his life, to know gentrification is taking place and that renters have been impacted. That African Americans have been impacted and that we need reasonable rent control. As a person who is on the board for Fair Housing Advocates for Northern California, who stands up for renters and against discrimination, I know personally the impact of what is done. I’m one of few who has lived here in Richmond and have seen it come and go. We need reasonable common sense.”

Wilson: “I do support our current rent control policies because it is the tool we have to keep people in their homes, preventing homelessness and displacement to far away communities.”