Richmondside is partnering with two student journalism publications, the Richmond Confidential and The (Contra Costa College) Advocate, to host three election forums so voters can hear from the candidates running for mayor and two Richmond City Council seats in the June 2 primary election.
meet the candidates running for mayor
Some journalism students from those two publications volunteered to interview at random local voters about mayor’s race and to see whether they understood the new primary system, which is a first for Richmond. Here’s what some of them had to say.
Name: Colin Ohl, 50
Occupation: Retired, former chef
Neighborhood: Point Richmond
Ohl is registered to vote but said he does not regularly do so in local elections.
Do you intend to vote in the mayoral primary in June?
“Not usually. I just usually vote, like, when I get my ballot sent to me in the mail, so like the midterms and the presidential elections. I don’t really vote for, like, small politics.”
Are you aware that this is the city’s first primary and that it could determine the winner unless a runoff occurs?
“No, I didn’t.”
Ohl said he was not familiar with the controversy over the Mayor Eduardo Martinez’s social media posts about Palestine and Israel. (Martinez is running for his second term.)
What would be your top priorities for Richmond’s next mayor? What are some things you’d want them to focus on?
“Well, what I liked about the last two years or so was just, basically, I’m noticing, you know, streets getting paved, construction happening, like, bike lanes going in, that sort of a thing where, you know, it’s like cleaning up the town, but it’s improving it a little bit, and just more of that would be great. That’s what I’ve noticed.”
Top three issues in your area that you would like the city council to address, if you have any?
“I don’t really have any top issues. I’m pretty happy with where I live, and yeah, like I said, just keep doing small improvements of things that are old and worn-out and need to be improved.
“And I mean, if I really, really, like, followed the local politics, you know, and was up on, like, the budget and where, how it’s being displaced, those sort of things are incredibly important. But I don’t. I’m not. I’m not into it like that.”
— Zoe Harwood, Contra Costa Advocate
Name: Willie Mulder, 63
Neighborhood: District 1
Occupation: Retired
How long have you lived in Richmond? 63 years
Mulder, a registered voter who said he regularly votes in Richmond elections, considers himself a “moderate,” and does not align with the Richmond Progressive Alliance. He was unaware that this is the city’s first primary and that it could determine the winner unless a runoff occurs. He said he doesn’t pay much attention to City Hall, ranking his interest in local politics a “4-out-of-10.”
“I care about my neighborhood, but all that council stuff just feels distant. I don’t really know my council member (Jamelia Brown) and haven’t kept up with it over the years.”
How satisfied are you with the current city council and your elected representative? “I don’t know much about the city council, but I know they need to fix these roads out here.”
Are you happy with the current mayor’s performance? Why or why not?
“I don’t really know too much about him, but I do know that I want the young Black man (Demnlus Johnson) to win this year.”
Are you familiar with the controversy over the mayor’s comments about Gaza/Palestine? If yes: Would this influence your vote?
“Yes, I did hear about his comments and people saying they were anti-semitic. I don’t totally agree. It wouldn’t influence my vote, because I still want the young Black man to win.”
What are your top priorities for Richmond’s next mayor?
“My top priorities for Richmond’s next mayor are public safety, jobs for folks who need them, and taking care of our seniors and veterans.
“We need someone who actually listens to the people and makes decisions that help everyone, not just a few.”
What are your top three priorities for the city as a whole?
“My priorities for Richmond are public safety, economic development, better housing and community spaces, all to make the city where residents feel safe and supported and proud to live.”
Do you vote regularly and are you planning on voting in this election? Do you know what district you live in?
“Yes, I do vote. I will be voting for Demnlus Johnson. I did not know what district I was in until you pulled it up and showed me the district map.”
— Donte Patterson, Contra Costa Advocate
Name: Tashanique Brown, 35
Occupation: Billing and coding representative
Neighborhood: District 3
Richmond resident for: 35 years
Brown said she regularly votes in Richmond elections, but she was unaware that the winner could be determined in the primary. She considers herself a moderate and isn’t associated with the RPA.
How satisfied are you with the current city council and your elected representative?
“Honestly, the city council does some things right with safety and jobs, but they’ve got to be real with us and stop playing games with how they run stuff.”
Are you happy with the current mayor’s performance? Why or why not?
“I’m honestly not super happy with the current mayor’s performance. I feel like there has been too much controversy and it’s taken focus away from everyday issues we care about. Some people around here have been upset about how he’s handled himself on social media and called for him to apologize or resign, which makes folks feel uneasy about his leadership.
“I think we need someone who listens better and keeps Richmond’s priorities,” Brown said, noting issues such as safety and housing.”
What are your top priorities for Richmond’s next mayor?
“I want Richmond’s next mayor to focus on safety, housing, supporting local businesses, and I have faith Demnlus Johnson will bring real change for our community.”
What are your top three priorities for the city as a whole? “Better education in these schools, and more job opportunities.”
— Donte Patterson, Contra Costa Advocate
