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Meet the candidates for Richmond City Council
1st District: Zac Walker
Age: 39
Background: Walker is a Virginia Commonwealth University graduate. He has lived in the city for 15 years and is a parent to a Richmond Public Schools student.
Walker is running on a platform that focuses heavily on funding public education, making roads pedestrian-friendly and ensuring the city is approving projects that are good for Richmond.
1st District: Andrew "Gumby" Breton
Age: 42
Background: Breton is the current chair of the Richmond City Democratic Committee and a board member with the Richmond Parent Teacher Association.
Breton is running on a platform that focuses on advocating for safe streets, ensuring environmental preservation and providing resources to the city’s public schools.
1st District: Paul Goldman
Age: 78
Background: Goldman has built a career as a political analyst and lawyer. He served as the chair of the Democratic Party of Virginia from 1990 to 1993.
Goldman led the charge against the two proposed Richmond casino referendums. Additionally, he has made attempts to stop the new Diamond baseball stadium.
He has worked on several campaigns including Robert F. Kennedy’s 1968 presidential campaign and Dan Walker’s Illinois governor campaign as well as former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder’s campaign.
2nd District: Katherine Jordan
Age: 50
Background: Jordan has served as the 2nd District representative since 2020.
She sits on the organizational development; finance and economic development; land use, housing and transportation; and governmental operations standing committees.
Her record on the council includes spearheading many of the city’s green initiatives as well as funding schools; she is the only council member to not vote in favor of the casino referendums.
Jordan’s platform focuses on similar issues including green infrastructure, school funding and safe roads.
3rd District: Ann-Frances Lambert
Age: 47
Background: Lambert, the incumbent, was elected to the council in 2020.
She sits on the council’s governmental operations; land use, housing and transportation; and organizational development standing committees. Lambert is also the current council vice president.
In 2023, she ran unsuccessfully for the 79th District Virginia House of Delegates seat.
Lambert is the daughter of the late Benny Lambert, a former Virginia delegate who fought against racial discrimination.
3rd District: Kenya Gibson
Age: 50
Background: Gibson is the current 3rd District representative on the Richmond School Board. She was first elected to the position in 2017 and was reelected in 2020.
Gibson announced her plans to run for the council earlier this year. Her platform focuses on accessible and affordable housing, good union jobs for all, improvements to public services and transparent government.
3rd District: Maria Carra Rose
Age: 42
Background: Carra Rose is a member of the Richmond City Democratic Committee, a community activist, a leader and a parent to a Richmond Public Schools student. She is active in numerous civic groups and organizations.
Previously, Carra Rose worked in human resources and served as a general contractor.
Her platform focuses on ensuring public schools are adequately funded, streets are safe and walkable and city government is accessible and responsive to the public.
5th District: Stephanie Lynch
Age: 37
Background: Lynch is the incumbent. She assumed the role in 2019 and was elected to the position in 2020.
Currently, she sits on the council’s organizational development; education and human services; public safety; and governmental operations standing committees.
Lynch is a social worker in Richmond.
She is running uncontested with a platform aimed at improving schools, expanding access to affordable housing, reimagining public safety and decreasing gun violence.
6th District: Ellen Robertson
Age: 73
Background: Robertson is the incumbent. She was first elected in 2003 and has held the position for 20 years, winning five reelections.
She sits on the organizational development; education and human services; finance and economic development; and land use, housing and transportation standing committees.
Robertson has a background in nursing as a licensed practical nurse.
Throughout her tenure, Robertson has spearheaded numerous initiatives to increase access to affordable housing and thwart gentrification in historically Black communities.
6th District: Tavares Floyd
Age: 33
Background: Floyd previously served as the council liaison for 6th District council incumbent Ellen Robertson.
He is the cousin of the late George Floyd, whose death sparked nationwide demonstrations for social reform.
Floyd is a lawyer, small-business owner and community advocate. He is running on a platform that promises to advocate for all of the district’s neighborhoods, decrease gun violence, strengthen the city’s economy and address poverty.
6th District: Willie Hilliard Jr.
Age: 60
Background: Hilliard served as a community organizer for the North Side Food Access Coalition, an organization that aims to provide solutions to food scarcity.
In 2020, Hilliard unsuccessfully ran for the 3rd District Richmond City Council seat. He is a barber.
His platform includes increasing affordable housing, promoting equitable transportation, ensuring adequate food access to all residents and funding public education.
7th District: Cynthia Newbille
Age: 72
Background: Newbille, the incumbent, was first elected in 2009 and has served for 14 consecutive years.
She sits on the council’s organizational development; education and human services; and finance and economic development standing committees. In her tenure, Newbille has spearheaded historic preservation initiatives including the National Slavery Museum.
She has a Ph.D. in public policy and administration from Virginia Commonwealth University.
7th District: Eric Sundberg
Age: 29
Background: Sundberg is the youngest prospective candidate running in the upcoming election. His background is in labor reform.
He was the chair of the Richmond Democratic Socialists of America.
His platform includes creating housing for all, paying reparations to exploited and displaced neighborhoods, reducing evictions, ending slumlord practices and ensuring adequate food access.
8th District: Reva Trammell
Age: 70
Background: Trammell is the incumbent. She was first elected in 2007 and has served 17 years.
She sits on the council’s organizational development and public safety committees. In her tenure, she has been a vocal advocate for the Richmond Police Department and helped spearhead collective bargaining for city employees.
Trammell is the president and CEO of RMT LLC.
8th District: Frank Henry Wilson Jr.
Age: 65
Background: Wilson is a judicial officer with the Supreme Court of Virginia. He has 30 years of management experience in insurance and financial services.
Wilson is running on a platform that focuses on improving public facilities, promoting fiscal accountability and overall improving the district.
9th District: Nicole Jones
Age: 51
Background: Jones recently joined the council after being appointed to the position following the resignation of now-Del. Michael Jones.
Formerly, Jones was the 9th District School Board representative. She was elected to the position in 2020. Jones has a background in business development and management. She is the deputy director at Art 180.
Her platform includes funding public education, promoting economic development, and ensuring safe and clean neighborhoods.
4th District: Sarah Abubaker
Age: 38
Background: Abubaker is the president of the Westover Hills Neighborhood Association. She also works with the Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Center and a number of local nonprofits including the Richmond Performing Arts Alliance and Art 180.
She is running uncontested on a platform that pushes for better schools, affordable housing, property tax reform and environmental protection.
