I love our iconic city. That is why I want the best person to lead it. That person is unquestionably Kim B. Gray.

I am asking all Richmonders to consider the following question: Are you better off now than you were four years ago?

When one considers three critical areas — the Richmond Public Schools graduation rate, city roads and infrastructure and clandestine back room deals — the answer is a resounding “No.”

During the last four years, the high school dropout rate has skyrocketed to 23.2 percent, the worst in the state.

With regard to city taxes, Mayor Stoney led City Council to increase the restaurant meal tax rate by 25 percent – from 6 percent to 7.5 percent. He then followed it up by proposing an increase in the real estate tax to a whopping $1.29 per $100 of assessed value. By comparison, Chesterfield County’s real estate tax rate is 95 cents per $100 of assessed value, and Henrico County is 87 cents per $100 of assessed value.

Are Richmonders getting anything for these exorbitant taxes? Clearly, they are not.

Finally, consider the secret back room deals that have proliferated under a Stoney administration. Mayor Stoney spent $2 million dollars and two years of city staff time and effort on the $1.5 billion Navy Hill development boondoggle. Had Ms. Gray and City Council not halted his project, Richmond would have been forced to divert $650 million of taxpayer money on a Coliseum replacement that would have bankrupted the city.

Ms. Gray is different and she has proven it. As a former member of the Richmond School Board and current member of City Council, Ms. Gray has made the right decisions time and time again. She opposed the restaurant meals tax, opposed Mayor Stoney’s real estate tax hike proposal and led the fight to stop the Coliseum debacle.

Ms. Gray has articulated sound plans to fix our schools and infrastructure, stop gentrification and halt the deplorable practice of spending city money on big shiny projects.

I humbly and respectfully request that you support the honest and transparent mayoral candidacy of Kim Gray.

SEN. JOSEPH D. “Joe” Morrissey

Richmond

The writer represents the 16th District in the Virginia Senate.