Why each of these candidates wants to be Richmond's next mayor

RICHMOND, Va. -- All five mayoral candidates took the stage at the Citizens' Debate Tuesday.

The debate, held at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture (VMHC), was co-sponsored by Richmond First, the VMHC’s John Marshall Center, the Richmond Times-Dispatch, and WTVR CBS 6.

Moderator Greg McQuade and panelists Bob Holsworth, Chris Coates and Reba Hollingsworth asked 11 questions to the candidates — Andreas Addison, Danny Avula, Michelle Mosby, Maurice Neblett, and Harrison Roday.

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Citizens' Debate Recap: Where Richmond's mayoral candidates stand on key issues

WTVR CBS 6 Web Staff

The first question of the debate was: Tell us why you are the best and most qualified person on this stage to be the next mayor of Richmond.

Andreas Addison

I am a 16-year veteran of City Hall. My eight years working in the walls of City Hall focused my attention on taking a entry-level position and making it into a nationally recognized government innovation leader.

I led international projects, won state awards and national awards as well. The reason why I quit my job is because you don't know about any of the work that I did, and so one of the biggest things I wanted to do is run for office.

The last eight years, I've served on City Council.

During my time on City Council, we've made incredible progress. When I was elected in 2017 you asked me to fill potholes. We are now paving 80% of our streets. You asked me to try to fix transit, and now we have one of the top three transit systems in the country that I helped make fare-free.

And lastly, probably the most important one, you asked me to fund public schools, and we've made historic investments, $88 million increase in RPS funding, building four new schools, and increasing average teacher pay.

Danny Avula

I'm running for mayor because I love this city.

I've tackled some of the biggest challenges that our local and state government have faced, and I want to bring that experience to City Hall.

I love this city because it's been home for over two decades. My wife teaches in Richmond Public Schools. Our five kids have all gone to Richmond Public Schools. The city has shaped us in so many ways.

When we were dead last in the country in terms of getting COVID vaccines into arms, Governor Northam called me and asked me to lead the state vaccination effort. We went from 50th to the top 10 most vaccinated state in the country, and we did it by listening to the community, by partnering with the private sector, and by being really focused on process and outcomes.

That's the experience that I want to bring to City Hall because if we're going to tackle the crisis of affordable housing, if we're going to improve educational outcomes, if we're going to expand access to health care, and if we're going to create an effective and accountable City Hall, that's the expertise our next mayor needs.

I'm going to be a mayor who makes sure that we continue to grow and flourish as a city, and that nobody gets left behind.

Maurice Neblett

I am running to be Richmond's next mayor because I am an example in the resiliency of Richmond. I'm a product of Richmond. I was born and raised here. I'm an example of commitment, and I'm not Johnny Come Lately.

I've been here, I've seen the challenges. I've helped pull and lift up veterans' families in crisis, and also those who have been incarcerated. So on a day-to-day basis, I've been doing it for over 15 years, and I've been committed to each and every person in the city of Richmond, even outside of the city limits.

When the call comes, I answer, almost like Batman in the heat of the night.

So the thing is, I have a background in financial accountability, because I'm on the board of directors of a Federal Credit Union, and also I'm a business owner, a serial entrepreneur.

I have innovative ways that's going to push and drive Richmond forward, and I cannot wait to serve as Richmond's next Mayor.

Harrison Roday

I'm Harrison Roday. It's great to be with you tonight. I'm running for mayor because I'm a proven Democrat who has the experience to get this job done, starting on day one.

I've worked with Senator Kaine and President Obama, so I know what it's like to have leaders who listen to people and who serve residents by advocating for them. I spent many years working in manufacturing, and I love manufacturing because people come together with a common purpose to get things done. And that's not just what we need to do to reform City Hall, but across our entire community.

At the beginning of COVID, when businesses were shuttering, I started a nonprofit organization called Bridging Virginia that serves small, Black and women-owned businesses with access to capital, because a level playing field is what we need in Richmond more than ever.

I'm running because our next mayor needs to have the right combination of experience and our shared Democratic values, and I'm looking forward to the conversation tonight.

Michelle Mosby

I'm running for mayor because I love our city and I love the people of Richmond, and I believe that Richmond deserves the best.

I am a former council representative that was able to get some really great things done in our city in four years.

Currently, we have my opponents, we have three that have never served in local government, and you need someone that can hit the ground running. At the end of the day, you have to have someone that has presented policy, presented initiatives, and a budget before Council and gain consensus, and I have been able to do that.

We need someone that has been able to not just be appointed to certain boards, but has been elected by the council to be president and serve as president of Richmond City Council.

You need someone that can work for the entire city and on day one hit the ground running, because in March, a proposed budget will need to be to council, and you have to have someone that can make that happen for us.

Learn more about the candidates

We recapped every debate question here:

1. Question 1: Why you want to be mayor
2. Question 2: Finance department
3. Question 3: Government transparency
4. Question 4: School system
5. Question 5: Real estate tax rate
6. Question 6: Government efficiency
7. Question 7: Pedestrian safety
8. Question 8: Police
9. Question 9: VCU
10. Question 10: Monument Avenue
11. Question 11: City Charter Review Commission

You can watch the full debate here or on our YouTube channel.

CBS 6 interviewed each candidate ahead of the debate, which you can find here:

• Harrison Roday (Sept. 9)
• Michelle Mosby (Sept. 10)
• Maurice Neblett (Sept. 11)
• Danny Avula (Sept. 18)
• Andreas Addison (Sept. 23)

For more information on this year’s election — and how to cast your ballot in the City of Richmond or the surrounding areas — visit WTVR’s Virginia Voter’s Guide.

You can check your voter registration here. The last day to register to vote is Oct. 15.

What hopes do you have for Richmond's next mayor? Email the CBS 6 Newsroom and let us know.

Note: WTVR used AI software to transcribe the debate and newsroom staff to edit for clarity.