A flyer with the details for the candidate forums.
Richmondside is co-hosting three meet-the-candidates nights, one for each Richmond City Council district with a seat up for election. Credit: Richmondside

Richmondside Richmond City Council candidate forums

WHAT: District 1 candidates night, the first of three Richmondside co-hosted Richmond City Council candidate nights.

WHEN: Wed., Sept. 18., 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m.

WHERE: CoBiz, 1503 Macdonald Ave. Please RSVP here. Spanish translation will be available. The event will be streamed via this Zoom link.

OTHER DISTRICT FORUMS: District 6 candidate forum is Sept. 30, 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. at Memorial Auditorium Bermuda Room. District 5 is Oct. 8, 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m., Easter Hill United Methodist Church,  3911 Cutting Blvd. Please RSVP for either event here.

We want to hear from you! What should we ask the candidates? Email your questions to hello@richmondside.org.

MORE INFO: Not sure which district you live in? Visit Richmond’s city voting district map. Voter registration questions, read our Contra Costa County how-to-vote guide.

In about a month, Richmond voters will begin casting mail-in ballots for the Nov. 5 General Election. Among the important decisions to be made are who should fill the three open seats on our City Council, in Districts 1, 5 and 6.

Increasing government transparency and civic engagement are two of Richmondside’s core values. And since Richmond City Council is the lead municipal body controlling the city’s finances and making decisions impacting everything from parks to public safety, we wanted to give residents a chance to hear directly from the candidates and ask them questions. 

Richmondside is co-hosting election forums in each of the three districts with council races this year, where candidates will briefly present their platforms and take questions from local journalists and audience members.

The free events are being presented in partnership with Richmond Confidential, El Tímpano and The Contra Costa Pulse

First up is District 1, where candidates Jamelia Brown, Mark Wassberg and incumbent Councilmember Melvin Willis are vying to represent the Iron Triangle/Belding Woods area. The forum will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 18, at CoBiz, 1503 Macdonald Ave. , where Richmondside is based.

Richmond City Council candidates (scroll with arrows to view)

  • richmond city council candidate ahmad anderson
  • Jameila Brown
  • richmond city council candidate mark wassberg
  • Richmond City Councilmember Melvin Willis

Doors will open at 6 p.m. and light refreshments will be served. Spanish interpreters will be available. Please RSVP to attend the District 1 event.

District 5 and 6 meet-the-candidate nights

District 6 (North and East)

Candidates: Shawn Dunning, Claudia Jimenez (incumbent)

Date: Sept. 30

Location: Bermuda Room @ Memorial Auditorium
2533 Nevin Ave.

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

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

Candidates: Ahmad Anderson and Sue Wilson

Date: Oct. 8

Location:  Easter Hill United Methodist Church,  3911 Cutting Blvd,. Richmond, 94804

We hope you’ll join us to learn more about who is competing to represent your neighborhood on the Richmond City Council, get informed about local issues, and add your voice to the conversation.

Not sure which district you live in? Visit Richmond’s city voting district map.

the seven richmond city council candidates pose for a portrait.
Richmond City Council candidates for Districts 1, 5 and 6 (from left): Ahmad Anderson, District 5, Jamelia Brown, District 1, Mark Wassberg, District 1, Claudia Jimenez, District 6, Melvin Willis, District 1, Sue Wilson, District 5, and Shawn Dunning, District 6. Credit: Andrew Whitmore Credit: Andrew Whitmore

Kari Hulac is the Editor-in-Chief of Richmondside.

What I cover: As Editor-in-Chief, I oversee all Richmondside's journalism.

My background: A Bay Area resident for most of my life, and an East Bay reporter and editor for 13 years, I have worn many hats in a journalism career spanning more than 20 years. I held several editorial leadership positions at the Bay Area News Group between 1997 and 2010, including editor of The (Hayward) Daily Review and features editor of The Oakland Tribune. I was a senior editor based in the East Bay at local online news network Patch, and a fill-in breaking news editor at Bay City News.

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