RICHMOND, Va. — This November, Richmonders will not just help choose a new president – but they will also elect a new mayor. Five candidates are running to replace Mayor Levar Stoney. Each will join CBS6 individually to discuss their vision for Richmond.
Danny Avula, a medical doctor, public health executive and Richmond resident of about 20 years, said that this election is about selecting a leader who can usher in the next chapter of the city — and that Richmond’s mayor should have experience leading local and state-level agencies.
“I don’t think there’s any private sector leader who would walk in and say, ‘Oh, yeah, this is how things should be run. There’s different rules,” Avula said. “I spent 15 years being successful at leading and transforming local and state government agencies and doing the work of building a team, building culture, and improving service delivery, which is ultimately a huge part of what this job is about.”
WTVRHe believes it’s up to the city to figure out how to support the building of affordable housing, such as by providing money at a lower interest rate to lessen the total cost to the developer.