Coming as a surprise to no one, former Virginia Delegate Joe Morrissey announced on Thursday, at the Satellite Lounge, a bid for Mayor of Richmond. Morrissey said one of his priorities would be full accreditation for all of the city’s schools. He will also focus on economic development and anti-poverty programs.
Morrissey also criticized the current city administration on late Comprehensive Annual Financial Plan saying,
“I will hire people who know how to prepare a budget and prepare it on time. I will only employ professionals who would never allow our city to lose its bond rating due to delinquent CAFR reporting; people who will never again produce a budget that doesn’t include a line item for snow removal and leaf pickup,” he said.
“There will be no further multiyear agonizing over where to build a baseball field. The field will remain at The Diamond,” he added.
Morrissey was arrested in 2014 and charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor over his relationship with the teenage receptionist at his law practice, Myrna Pride, aka Myrna Warren. He served time in jail, being released during the day to attend the General Assembly session where he represented Richmond as a Delegate. The couple is now engaged and have two children, one born last week. Morrissey has a been jailed or arrested numerous times.
It’s a crowded field in the race for Mayor of Richmond. From the Richmond Times-Dispatch,
Five other candidates have announced their intention to run for mayor: Council President Michelle R. Mosby; community strategist Lillie Estes; Richmond Public Schools teacher Chad Ingold; activist Rick Tatnall; and former City Councilman Bruce Tyler.
In addition, there is a wide field of potential candidates who are flirting publicly with the possibility of a run, including City Council members Jonathan T. Baliles and Chris A. Hilbert; Secretary of the Commonwealth Levar Stoney; and Venture Richmond Director Jack Berry.
