Why I am running.

By Jeff Ritterman

I support transparent democracy. I believe that Richmond's problems can best be solved by relying on the talents and intelligence of Richmond's residents.

We are living in a time when the gap between the very rich and everyone else is widening drastically. It is a time when the middle class is steadily shrinking and the underclass is fighting just to stay alive. It is a time of alarming climate change and environmental devastation. It is also a time when our national leadership has failed us badly and sad to say, our local leadership has as well. The Obama campaign has struck such a cord because of how deeply we all experience the urgent need for a change of direction. The same is true within our city.

The recent city council decision to give Chevron everything it wanted in the Chevron Hydrogen Plant expansion project and to give the community none of what it wanted is only the latest example of why we need new leadership for the city. Not only was the community's request for a cap on the grade of crude oil Chevron could refine not honored, the community benefits package was negotiated in secret with no community input.

I do not support deals made in secret. I view transparency as one of the pillars on which democracy rests. I believe that protecting the health of the community is a sacred trust not something to be sold at any price.