Richmond City Council (photo courtesy Facebook/Richmond City Council)
City Councilwoman Cynthia Newbille confirmed to Church Hill People's News on Friday that she will seek reelection to the 7th district council seat.
Newbille has represented the district encompassing much of the East End and Fulton Hill since November 2009. She won the seat in a special election after then-City Councilwoman Delores McQuinn was elected to the state legislature.
Newbille will have at least two challengers for the seat. Joe Cook, an IT professional who has lived in Fulton Hill for 10 years, filed to run for the seat in March. Cook has never held elected office, according to his Facebook page. Another candidate, Joshua Williams, filed paperwork with the registrar this week.
Newbille was the last council incumbent to make known her intentions for the upcoming November elections. Her decision means five council incumbents are seeking reelection, and newcomers will seek to fill four open seats on the city’s nine-person legislative body.
What we know so far:
- West End representative Jon Baliles is running for mayor, meaning the 1st district seat is up for grabs. So far, Harry Warner Jr., a nonprofit consultant, and Jonathan Cruise, have filed to run for the open seat.
- Former council president Charles Samuels will not seek reelection in the 2nd district. Three candidates – developer Charlie Diradour, School Board representative Kimberly Gray and VCU student Rebecca Keel – have filed paperwork to run for the open seat.
- Northside representative Chris Hilbert said last month he would seek reelection in the 3rd district. Dorian Daniels, a convenience store owner, has filed to challenge Hilbert for the seat.
- Kathy Graziano confirmed to the Richmond Times-Dispatch last week that she is retiring at the end of her current term, leaving her Westover Hills-anchored 4th district seat open. Three candidates – Graziano’s council liaison, Timothy Grimes, and School Board representative Kristen Larson have both filed to run for the seat.
- First-term councilman Parker Agelasto confirmed in April he is seeking re-election. Montigue Magruder, a community activist, and Garrett Sawyer, a human resources analyst, have filed paperwork to challenge him.
- Longtime council incumbent Ellen Robertson is seeking reelection in the 6th district. Donald Moss, who worked as a Democratic aide in the General Assembly, has declared his candidacy for the seat, as well.
- Councilwoman Reva Trammell will seek reelection in the 8th district. Amelia Lightner, president of the Brookbury Civic Association, has filed to run for the seat, as well.
- City Council President Michelle Mosby is running for mayor, leaving the 9th district seat open. Three people – Michael Jones, Germika Pegram and Marcus Squires – have filed thus far to run for the seat.
Tuesday, June 14 is the deadline to file paperwork to appear on the November ballot.
Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Sean Smith was running for Richmond City Council in the 4th district. He is running for School Board.
