Richmond, Va. (Newsradiowrva.com) - The field of hopefuls in the race for Richmond’s mayor has grown to six.
First District City Councilman Andreas Addison and local non-profit founder Harrison Roday have thrown their hats into the ring.
Addison is an adjunct professor at the University of Virginia who owns a gym in Scott’s Addition and is currently serving his second term representing the city’s West End.
In a statement announcing his campaign, Addison said Richmond needs “a leader committed to doing the hard work, implementing progressive policies to move us forward, governing for the sustainable growth of Richmond, focusing on meeting the basic needs of residents, and preventing displacement.”
Roday, a first-time candidate, is a former investment banking analyst who co-founded a small private equity firm. He announced that he’s running in a formal announcement on Thursday.
The other candidates to replace Mayor Levar Stoney, who is unable to run for a third consecutive term under city rules, include former members of City Council Michelle Mosby and Chris Hilbert.
Mosby – the first Black woman to serve as Richmond City Council president – filed paperwork to run in 2022 but officially announced her campaign launch in January at a press conference at Libby Hill Park.
Hilbert represented the city’s Northside as the 3rd District Council member from 2005 to 2021, serving as vice president during his time on the council.
Garrett Sawyer, the CEO of his own HR consulting firm, announced his run for Richmond mayor last February. He says he is running because he wants to continue to work to make Richmond “an even better place to live.”
Maurice Neblett, a political outsider, has also joined the race. Neblett has a background in criminal justice and in 2015, filed a civil lawsuit alleging Richmond police officers kicked in his door and put him in a chokehold while searching for marijuana they didn’t find.
The deadline to join the race is April 4.
