New unofficial Contra Costa County election results released Nov. 22 show Richmond City Council District 1 candidate Jamelia Brown has slightly increased her lead over Melvin Willis, the incumbent supported by the Richmond Progressive Alliance (RPA). She has 49.3% of the votes cast in the race, compared to Willis, who has 40.1%. Voter turnout in the district was low, as it has been in past elections, with only 3,702 votes cast. Voter turnout countywide was 73.9% of 722,861 registered voters.
Willis was seeking a third term. He was initially elected in 2016 and re-elected in 2020 — the year when the city switched from holding at-large elections to district-based voting for council seats.
Willis told Richmondside Wednesday that though he believed the trend would continue and Brown would ultimately be named the winner, but pointed out that things can change once all the ballots are counted. According to the Contra Costa County elections division, there are 14,600 ballots countywide still to be counted. The next update won’t be until Nov. 22.
“I can still think of like four instances in recent memory where races where called in weeks afterwards and then at the last minute things changed,” he said, referencing the 2022 District 2 election which saw (councilmember) Cesar Zepeda win in a tiebreaker over former Mayor Tom Butt’s son, Andrew. “I’ve accepted that the trend is just going to continue. I’ll accept it as a loss for now but I’m also curious at what those final results are going to be.”
Brown, who has never held public office, received just 304 more votes than Willis, with the third candidate, Mark Wassberg, receiving 376 votes. Wassberg has openly said he runs for office repeatedly just to have a platform for his views and that he doesn’t expect to win.
Brown said Friday evening that she could “finally breathe” after the count released that day showed her still ahead.
“I feel optimistic about it. I’m hopeful,” she told Richmondside Friday.
Reflecting on her campaign — which was voter registration centered — she admitted that she felt discouraged toward the end given that Willis had more financial contributions from community organizations.
Willis raised $35,626.34 raised dollars and received endorsements from local public employee unions including the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) Local 21 and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).
In comparison, Brown raised $14,032 in campaign donations and was endorsed by various local trade unions, including the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers Local 549 PAC and UA Local 342 Plumbers & Pipefitters.
“I’m really happy that I saw this through because there were many moments where I wanted to stop, but something in me kept saying ‘keep going,’ ” she said.
Richmond election results
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At the RPA headquarters on election night supporters and candidates danced and watched the national election news as votes trickled in for local and state races. Members of the RPA cheered as the initial results showed District 5 RPA candidate Sue Wilson and District 6 incumbent Claudia Jimenez holding leads in their respective races.
Willis also received endorsements from other RPA-backed candidates on the city council: Mayor Eduardo Martinez, Vice Mayor Claudia Jimenez and outgoing District 5 council member Gayle McLaughlin.
A long-time community organizer with Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE), Willis campaigned heavily for more rent control and was a proponents for the Measure U gross receipts tax that was passed in 2020.
Brown campaigned on increased economic development of the Iron Triangle and Belding Woods and the lack of public safety in the neighborhoods, saying that both issues are directly tied to each other.
Wassberg, a frequent figure at city council meetings known for making negative comments about the RPA, ran unsuccessfullyy for mayor in 2020, finishing last. He has not reported receiving any campaign donations.
Leading up to the election, candidates campaigned on issues such as economic development, blight and how they would advocate for improved city services in the area in light of the $550 million Chevron settlement with the city.
The district, which consists of the Iron Triangle and Belding Woods neighborhoods, was once a bustling business district prior to the development of Hilltop Mall in the 1970s, but now is an economically struggling corridor with some bright spots, including the Kaiser Permanente Richmond Medical Center and the East Bay Center for the Performing Arts.
According to 2022 U.S. Census statistics, more than 35% of the population in zip code 94801 makes $50,000 or less annually. The median income in the area is just above $72,000.
Residents who shared their election year concerns with Richmondside told reporters that quality of life in the neighborhoods, affordable housing and public safety were the most important issues while candidates recognized there was a need to educate voters about how to become more engaged.
According to city voter turnout data, District 1 had approximately 7,243 registered voters out of a total population of 19,495 in the 2020 General Election, the lowest of all six Richmond City Council districts. Only 4,700 residents, however, actually voted in that election. The area additionally is home to the highest concentration of immigrants, with that demographic group making up 43% of the total residents.
I stand with Dr. Jamila Brown, I think she’s the perfect, new and fresh, well educated, very relatable candidate. We the people would greatly appreciate her as city council. #D1JB