RICHMOND, Va. – The Rev. Leonidas B. “Lee” Young (D) will announce his intention to run for the 74th District House of Delegates seat on Tuesday at 10 a.m. at current Delegate Joe Morrissey’s law office in Highland Springs.
Young is the founder and pastor of New Kingdom Christian Ministries in Richmond’s North Side.
“I want to be the person who challenges the system,” he said.
In 1999, Young, who was Richmond’s mayor from July 1994 to June 1996 and was on the Richmond City Council from 1992 to 1996, was indicted on 19 federal charges and convicted of influence peddling during his term and of fraud as pastor of Fourth Baptist Church.
Young served 15 months of a two-year sentence, returning to Richmond in 2001.
When asked about his previous transgressions, Young simply stated that he’s moved on.
“That was 15 years ago,” Young said. “I am wiser. I’ve learned a lot.
“This is a forgiving district,” he continued, referencing Morrissey’s special election win in January. “This is all about second chances.”
In a press release, Young stated that he entering the race “to show that people who have made mistakes can overcome their pasts and fill positions of trust.”
He added that if he is elected, he promises to be an advocate for increasing the minimum wage.
Henrico School Board member Lamont Bagby recently announced his intentions to seek the Democratic Party nod to run for the 74th District. In January, party leaders choose Kevin Sullivan over Bagby to face Morrissey in the special election.
CBS 6 attempted to contact Morrissey to find out if he intends to run. Those calls were not returned.
The 74th House District covers parts of Henrico County, Richmond and Charles City County.
