Businessman Charlie Diradour running for Richmond City Council

By: Michael Martz | Richmond Times-Dispatch
Published: February 08, 2012

Richmond businessman Charlie Diradour announced his candidacy for Richmond City Council today in a bid to unseat incumbent Councilman Charles R. Samuels in the 2nd District.

Diradour, 48, a Richmond native and president of Lion's Paw Development Co., filed a statement of organization today with the Richmond registrar's office and plans to formally announce his candidacy next month. He made today's announcement by a posting on his Facebook page, and he launched a new Facebook page and Twitter account to build support for his candidacy.

He is the second challenger to emerge in the upcoming elections for mayor, council, and school board. Another Richmond developer, David M. Gammino, filed a statement of organization in December to challenge incumbent E. Martin Jewell in the 5th District, but has not formally declared his candidacy.

Diradour has been active in Richmond economic development issues and the battle over building a new baseball stadium in the city on North Boulevard. He also is vice president of the Fan District Association. He has been active in Richmond business for more than 25 years through his family-owned real estate company, Diradour Properties Inc., which became part of Lion's Paw five years ago.

"As I have become more involved, I have realized that in order for our conversations to be heard we need a City Council that is willing to listen, willing to be engaged in the public discussion, and is willing to tirelessly work to do what we have elected them to do: the people's work," he said in his announcement.

Diradour mounted a brief campaign to unseat U.S. Rep. Eric I. Cantor in the 7th Congressional District in 2009. He also has been politically involved in other campaigns, such as Sheriff C.T. Woody's election in 2005 and former City Council President William J. Pantele's unsuccessful bid to become mayor four years ago.

He lives in the Fan District with his wife, Ann, and their three children.

(This has been a breaking news update. Check back for more details as they become available. Read more in tomorrow's Richmond Times-Dispatch.)