Apparently, Mrs. Robertson must be suffering from delusions of grandeur or she is simply just telling us how far back into the past our city has slid in just a few days. We’re are not even through the first month of the Jones Administration and already we have secret backdoor deals happening.

What next?

You want to play “attack-the-messenger”?

Pathetic. You have each posted comments indicating some inside knowledge of City Hall and the inner workings of the minds of Council members. Hmmmm….

Methinks, you could both be the same person, or perhaps even the author(s)of that list of questions.

Therefore, I am so sorry my sarcastic comments about the list clearly struck a nerve and hurt your feelings. Truly sorry.

For the record, I did not receive that list from either an applicant or a Council member. There, got it?

Also, once again, I am neither aligned with any candidate nor a candidate myself.

I humbly ask that you examine all my posts and show even one in which I have endorsed any particular candidate.

The substance of all my remarks on this blog has been to question why there are some people who find it appropriate to attempt to a “ringer” of a representative from Henrico County.

As to your ad hominem attack on me because I am smart, I confess that I am nothing more than a nerd, with a nose for news and a penchant for politics.

Just a nerd. Born that way.

You obviously think you are soooo very, very special. To the point of being self-righteous. How much longer are you going to stomp your feet, screaming “notice me!” and “see how smart I am?”

You’re also really good at evading direct questions by blowing lots of smoke. Certainly not what I’m looking for in a Council rep.

Ron, you’re right, calling names isn’t fun, but I truly believe Joe Richmond is the alter ego of one of the applicants for the council seat (if not a close ally). I don’t like the double standard he has set for this process. Nor do I believe his self-righteous, condescending personality is appropriate for a council person, even if only temporary.

Read the applicant letters posted on this site. You might be able to figure it out, too.

Oh, Really? Are all your neighbors students of history and political science? Are you and your neighbors skilled at internet research?

One does not need to be an “insider” in order to be an active citizen journalist in this town. “Public documents” cannot, by definition, be “leaked.”

And for you — or anyone — to think that those 10 softball questions are the stuff of a confidential document is laughable.

I am not an “insider,” and I refuse to be a bystander or, God forbid, a “victim.” Being a bystander/victim is so 20th-Century.

For you to carry on like this makes you sound like Barney Fife.

That still doesn’t explain how you got the list of questions. Was it leaked to you by an applicant or a city council member? If so, that kinda thing happens all the time in politics. It just shows that you’re an insider, not a bystander.

“……What they do about one issue, especially one that will probably never happen is simply short-sighted.”

AND, NOW, this just in from the RT-D website (faster than a FOIA, more powerful than leaping to unfounded conclusions) ….

http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/article/COUN27GAT_20090126-200017/189313/

Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones and the Richmond City Council aren’t yet backing a proposed ballpark for Shockoe Bottom, but they do support legislation that would provide some of the project’s financing.

With a show of hands, a majority of the council members today signaled their support for bills introduced by Del. G. Manoli Loupassi, R-Richmond, and Sen. A. Donald McEachin, D-Henrico, that would allow a minor-league ballpark to be built with 5 percent of the state sales tax revenues generated by the facility as well as new private buildings attached to it.

The informal vote was based on the council’s expectation that the bills would be amended to allow the financing to apply to a new facility or to The Diamond, on North Boulevard.

Officials emphasized that their show of hands should not be construed as an endorsement of the $363 million Shockoe Center development, which includes the proposed ballpark.

“This is just letting it go into the marketplace of ideas,” Councilman Chris A. Hilbert said.

In an interview, Jones expressed support for the legislation being approved by the General Assembly, but he said he’s concerned that his administration has had little time to review the proposal for Shockoe Center. The developers are hoping to get a preliminary approval from the city by March 1.

“We will not be rushed into a decision,” Jones said. — Will Jones

Once all the candidates have submitted their responses, I think it would be most illuminating to see their responses.

The “Best and Brightest” certainly ought to be willing to post their own responses once all have been turned in to Council.

1. I am NOT a political operative working for anyone. The last candidate I volunteered for was Barack Obama, but, heck, so did millions of others.

2. I am NOT a candidate, nor do I ever intend to be.

3. I am NOT for or against any candidate who is a bonafide resident of the district. I have repeatedly stated that I intend to keep an open mind on all candidates who have lived inthe district prior to the November 2008 election.

4. I am FOR the principles of Democracy and consider myself a true-blue American.

5. I do NOT believe that the people of the Seventh District, or the City of Richmond, deserve to have a “ringer” of a representative imported from Henrico County.

6. I am a student of history and political science and I know how to do rudimentary research on the internet.

The applicants received that questionnaire via email on Friday, now you’re publishing it here on Monday. That’s faster than any FOIA request I’ve ever seen.

I gotta hand it to ya, if you are a political operative working for one of the candidates (if not a candidate yourself) you’re doing a pretty good job of trashing the competition.

First you went after Newbille now you’re going after…mmm, Ms. Dotts? Better hurry up, you only got about a week left to get em all.

I don’t want a representative that would be so confrontational that he/she cannot accomplish anything. I also want a representative that is would seek out the residents here and get all of their opinions.

What potential/real conflicts-of-interest do you have concerning impending votes before City Council?

1. Why do you feel you are the best candidate for the 7th District appointment? Describe your qualifications.

2. What made you decide to seek the appointment?

3. How long have you been a resident of the City and the 7th District?

4. If appointed, what do you feel to be your greatest duty and/or role as a Councilperson? What do you consider to be your greatest strengths or assets that will assist you in your role as Councilperson?

5. Do you have any intention to run for the 7th District seat in the November 2009 election?

If so, why do you intend to run?
If not, why would you forego running in November?

6. To what extent have you been involved in your community such as civic associations, non profits, etc.?

7. What specific needs do you see in the 7th District? How do you plan to address these issues?

8. What method of constituent outreach will you employ? How do you plan to inform your constituents of major city-wide issues and how will you proceed with their feedback?

9. What are your expectations of the time demands of service on City Council and how will you meet them?

10. What is your understanding of the role of the Mayor, the City Administration, and City Council under this form of government? How will you work with the Administration to see that the needs of your constituents and the needs of the City are met?

What a hoot-and-a-half that is!

I would love to see a list of their questions. Not only do the residents of the 7th District risk having a nearly non-resident hand-picked and anointed by the Marsh Machine appointed, but now we have eight non-residents solely in charge of the questions that are asked and answered.

Just because we can, I suggest we proffer our own list of questions. Here’s the first one:

1. What do you think about placing a stadium in Shockoe Bottom?

Detail your concerns and which way you intend to vote.

Joe, I like your idea about a list of questions. I’m not sure how much council will pay attention to us at this point, since it’s an appointment and not an election, but it would surely give everyone a chance to see who they want to support by way of contacting the other council members.

Steven, Joe’s got a good point about predicting future actions or inactions. McQuinn was famous for ignoring phone calls.

A candidate who is not answering phone calls or e-mails at this stage of the game doesn’t inspire confidence that should they attain the seat, they would be more responsive.

Sometime someone’s silence can tell you everything you need to know about that person and how much they respect the average citizen. Responses do not need to be long-winded or defensive. An affirmative statement of one’s values can be a powerful to antidote to the nastiest assault.

John Gerner and Carletta Wilson each impress me. They are both smart, even-tempered and bring a special knowledge of schools and the needs of children that would add value to CC knowledge base.

I really do want to keep an open mind until I see all the qualifications of each candidate. I thought it was really great the way the community blogs sat down with School Board candidates and the way RVA News has all candidates respond to questions.

In keeping with the spirit of collective community action, I suggest that we come up with a list of questions that could be asked of each candidate and invite the prospective candidates to respond in writing.

This would not be in lieu of a community forum, but perhaps as a prelude to and would let us know who can write a complete and (somehwat) coherent sentence.

If she wants to be part of the 7th then she needs to be open to their questions and concerns EARLY on rather than let things get to where they are now… multiple blogs and newspaper articles raising questions. I guess she doesn’t want the position?

Eric

WHY is she moving back to the city?

WHEN did she move back?

WHY didn’t they decide to live in the city as a married couple if her dedication to the city and the 7th district is so great?

HOW is it that you know the age difference between the two Robert Evans if it is just a “common name”?

And, as Ray asked, does her husband plan to live with her in the city or is the rental of the property simply an act to establish an address?

WHAT message does it send that McQuinn and Marsh think so little of those who resided in the 7th District as of Nov. 4th, that they would feel the need to “invite” Ms. Newbille to move into the 7th and ensconce her in a rental property right across the street from Betty Squire, an announced candidate for the appointment, a woman who has lived in the district for more than 25 years and has worked hard to improve life in the 7th, the City and the schools?

Mind you, I mention Mrs. Squire here not as an endorsement [she is qualified], but to point out the unfortunate way this thing is being steamrollered into the community. I intend to remain open to hearing and analyzing what each candidate brings to the table.

True, Ms. Newbille has credentials, but so do the other applicants for the position who have consistently resided in the 7th.

WHY bend the rules and place Ms. Newbille above the rest? You say she is “invested,” but everyone is still waiting to hear some details on what she has actually done.

I was so happy to hear [wrongly it turns out], that she had decided not to seek the appointment, but to run for the seat in November.

For a brief moment, a friend of mine and I cheered and agreed that by showing respect to the concerns of the 7th concerning the residency issue, she was virtually assuring herself a lock on the election. We cheered!

I cannot fully express how disappointing it was to turn around and hear that — no — despite serious citizen concerns over the residency issue, she [and her advisers] were choosing to ignore everyone.

Such actions on her part, and that of her advisers, do make me question her character and her commitment to the Democratic process.

Do you know if Cynthia Newbille’s husband plans to move into their rental unit in the City or is he just going to keep living in their Henrico home?

I stated [with punctuation corrections for emphasis and clarity]:

“So, it appears that it was indeed on Ms. Newbille’s watch that the Paygo scandal hit. Does this mean she did anything, wrong? No.

“All it means it that she was there — before, (during) and after it happened –and apparently neither noticed, nor did anything to stop it.”

Is the Robert Evans who owns the property in Henrico the father of the Robert Evans who went to jail? Or vice versa? What is their familial relationship?

We don’t disagree on the need for a living wage, better parents, better care for children and seniors and to keep our communities thriving and not blighted. Might I add, I long for the day when Black and White people in the City of Richmond will unite and demand quality schools for all children. ALL KIDS MATTER.

What we do disagree on, Peaches, is how someone could live and pay taxes in Henrico County and then move into the City simply to make an attempt at the appointment.

It perverts the Democratic process. It insults the people who live in the 7th District. It sends a bad message to the children and adults who live everyday and night in the district and do not escape to the counties. As in, “I can Pity those folks in the city, but don’t ask me to actually live there…..”

We also apparently disagree on the tactics employed to make this happen and on the accusations that the white and black (yes!) people living in the 7th are to be punished for the sins of the past and that we are all to stupid to be able to choose a qualified and bonafide resident of the 7th District as the representative.

It is a new day in America and the City of Richmond needs to embrace change based on how people think and what people do, instead of what color their skin is. Racial insults and innuendoes help no one.

We actually have a President who is calling for unity and we have old black leadership trying to keep that unity from happening by dividing white against black in the 7th. This has got to stop.

Perhaps, Peaches could provide that information as well. It may just be a coincidence. Then again, maybe not.

I have a question about Ms. Newbille’s involvement with the Vernon J. Harris health center, which Peaches mentioned in post #52. I was not aware that she had had prior involvement with the clinic. Peaches, would you share when and what she did there?

During 2002 to 2003, Cynthia Newbille was paid $91,500 as Chief of Staff for Calvin Jamison, then City Manager. [Style Weekly, Nov. 5, 2003]

And, an abstract from [Richmond Times-Dispatch, Feb. 24, 2004]states:

“Federal prosecutors say [Gwen C. Hedgepeth] conspired with Robert Evans, a former assistant to City Manager Calvin D. Jamison, to submit phony bills to the city for at least $25,695. The money was allegedly paid from Hedgepeth’s discretionary funds.

* Requiring council votes on all discretionary Paygo expenditures totaling more than $1,000 in general funds. Previously, the council voted on such expenditures totaling more than $2,500. City records show 32 expenditures each totaling $2,500 to various companies in recent years, including payments to Evans’ companies.

Additionally, the new Paygo policy does not prohibit expenditures for catering meetings. City records show 70 catering bills – totaling more than $40,000 – were paid from the council’s Paygo accounts from July 1 of 2000 to Dec. 31 of 2003. One of the bills totaled $2,901 for a Slave Trail Commission banquet featuring smoked salmon, chicken in puff pastry, shrimp cocktail, tenderloin, chocolate-covered strawberries and caviar.”

Finally, from [Richmond Times-Dispatch, Mar 31, 2005]:

“….In January, Deputy City Manager William E. Johnson III and Cynthia I. Newbille, who was chief of staff for former City Manager Calvin D. Jamison, resigned.”

So, it appears that it was indeed on Ms. Newbille’s watch that the Paygo scandal hit. Does this mean she did anything, wrong? No. All it means it that she was there before and after it happened and apparently neither noticed nor did anything to stop it.

What does it mean that she worked in Richmond City Hall making decisions about Richmond and lived an paid taxes in Henrico County?

What does it mean that it was on her watch that the PAYGO scandal hit?

You are the only one talking “conspiracy.” Facts are, Marsh, McQuinn and Jones are backing Cynthia Newbille for this seat. Cynthia Newbille has moved into the 7th District at their invitation so she can do their bidding. No conspiracy, just facts.

I, too, voted on the winning side. But, I also know that the labels of Democrat and Republican, liberal and conservative, require analysis and attention to detail. The article/chapter I suggested you read has nothing whatsoever to do with a “conspiracy” of any sort. It is a history lesson, plain and simple. I can tell you didn’t read it. Too many big words, perhaps?