Candidate for
Council Member; City of Richmond

We will only move forward as One Richmond.

My priorities include: empowering the community to combat crime and violence by reducing poverty, creating healthy, living-wage, job opportunities, providing support for small businesses, and building unity across cultures, ages, and neighborhoods.

I have worked in Richmond for 13 years as a Children's Mental Health provider, coordinating multi-disciplinary teams of teachers, probation officers and social workers to improve the lives of children and families. I am a small business owner, a Planning Commissioner, and a former Economic Development Commissioner. I am an African-American Latina, born in Panama, and came to the US when I was nine.

Richmond is hurting from powerful global economic changes and the failure to properly address these internationally and nationally. Courageous leaders with integrity can tackle our chronic problems of poverty, violence and despair. Employing a holistic approach, we can become the beloved community of Dr. King's dream.

We need leaders who share our aspirations and understand our needs. We need leaders who listen and respond. With your vote, I can be one of those leaders. Because I take no corporate money for my campaign, I am accountable only to the people of Richmond.

I stand in Richmond as a candidate of real and positive change and progress. I share the sense of urgency experienced by many - families of victims of homicide and victims of violent crime, kids with asthma and depressed parents of depressed teenagers. I will represent each and all of the diverse people of Richmond. I will work very hard during my tenure as a City Council member to advance policies that make this city better, healthier and more just. I will be a true representative of the interests and aspirations of the people of Richmond. There is a great need for us as a city, to collectively work for peace in Richmond. We must honor our differences of age, race, sexual orientation, class, political affiliations, religious or spiritual beliefs, and stand together as one to work for the common good. One Richmond!

Join me in building the prosperous, safe, and healthy city that we deserve.