6 qualify to run for Richmond council seat

Six candidates met yesterday's filing deadline to qualify for a special election to fill the 7th District seat on Richmond City Council.

Ronald L. Bond, Clarence Kenney, Deanna Lewis, Cynthia I. Newbille, Garry F. Powell and Robin D. Robinson submitted papers with the city registrar's office to be listed on the Nov. 3 ballot.

The 7th District seat was vacated early this year when longtime Councilwoman Delores L. McQuinn resigned after winning a special election for the 70th District seat in the House of Delegates. The House seat opened after Dwight C. Jones was elected mayor last fall.

In February, the council appointed Betty L. Squire to represent the district on an interim basis. She had not planned to run in this fall's special election, which will determine who completes the four-year term through 2012.

The 7th District covers the East End, including Church Hill and a portion of the riverfront where a proposal to build the Echo Harbour condominiums, hotel and office development has generated significant citywide debate.

Bond ran unsuccessfully for the 7th District School Board seat in 2006 and 2008, and for the council's 7th District seat in 1996. He works as a self-employed lifeand health-insurance field underwriter.

Kenney lost to McQuinn in last year's council race, and he sought the interim appointment by the council this year. He works as a recreational supervisor with the city's parks and recreation department.

Lewis works as an artist and in buying and restoring old homes. She announced her interest in city politics in February after the council unanimously approved plans for a 33-unit condominium complex on Church Hill. She and other residents opposed the project as a threat to the neighborhood's historic character.

Newbille is acting director of the East District Family Resource Center. She previously served as chief of staff to then-City Manager Calvin D. Jamison and managed the city's East District Initiative.

She initially sought the interim appointment but eventually withdrew her bid and announced her candidacy for the fall campaign.

Powell and Robinson also sought the interim appointment. Powell is a human-resources coordinator for Patient First.

Robinson works as an instructional assistant at Metropolitan Day School and formerly taught marketing at Armstrong High School.

As the council is preparing for the special election in the 7th District, the School Board is looking at a possible vacancy in the 5th District.

School Board member Betsy B. Carr has the Democratic nomination for the 69th District seat in the House of Delegates. She's running against Ernesto V. Sampson Jr., a Republican, and former Councilwoman L. Shirley Harvey, an independent.

The House seat has been vacant since April, when longtime Del. Franklin P. Hall resigned and was appointed to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.

Contact Will Jones at (804) 649-6911 or .

Staff writer Zachary Reid contributed to this report.