A key figure in the competition to develop a Richmond casino was an early contributor to 9th District City Councilman Michael J. Jones’ now ended campaign for the House of Delegates.

In January, Alfred Liggins, chief executive officer of Urban One, contributed $5,000 to Dr. Jones’ then fledgling effort to challenge incumbent Delegate Betsy B. Carr in the June 8 Democratic primary.

Mr. Liggins, the son of media mogul Cathy Hughes, has spearheaded Urban One’s proposal to build a $517 million casino-resort in South Side. The Black-owned media company, which operates several radio stations in Richmond and TV One, also has a small ownership stake in the MGM National Harbor casino-resort in Maryland.

On Wednesday, Dr. Jones confirmed the donation that has raised some eyebrows given that City Council soon will face a vote on whether to send to Richmond voters the question of approving the city’s preferred operator and site for the gambling operation.

One reason the donation has come under question: Urban One’s proposal appears to have emerged as the front-runner among the two finalists that an internal city panel is evaluating before sending its final recommendation to City Council.

At this point, Dr. Jones, a full-time pastor, has ended his legislative campaign after failing to make the Democratic primary ballot.

Instead of running as an independent, he said he would wait until the next round of General Assembly elections in 2023 to mount a challenge to Delegate Carr.

Dr. Jones reported raising $103,000 as of April 15 for his House campaign and will have that war chest available when he is next able to run.

He said Wednesday he has no plans to return the contribution to Mr. Liggins and sees no reason to return the money.

“I wouldn’t have received it if I thought it would be an issue” as a member of City Council.

Based on campaign finance reports collected by the nonprofit Virginia Public Access Project, Dr. Jones is far from the only candidate to receive a campaign donation from Mr. Liggins. A review shows that Mr. Liggins is one of the most active donors among the executives of companies that have competed for the Richmond casino license.

VPAP reported that Mr. Liggins in the past 12 months has donated $56,000 to Black politicians. His largest donations have gone to incumbent House members who are running for re-election, including Delegate Lamont Bagby of Henrico, chairman of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus, and Delegate Luke E. Torian of Prince William County, chairman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee. Mr. Liggins also contributed to the re-election campaign of Delegate Jeffrey M. Bourne of Richmond.

VPAP records also show that last year, Mr. Liggins contributed $1,000 to each of three Black candidates running for Richmond mayor, including incumbent Mayor Levar M. Stoney, and two challengers, former City Councilwoman Kim B. Gray and Alexsis Rodgers.

Mr. Liggins “made donations to others. I don’t see why I shouldn’t be able to keep his contribution,” Dr. Jones said.

Mr. Liggins is not listed as a contributor to Dr. Jones’ successful 2020 campaign for re-election to City Council, according to VPAP, which is well known for maintaining such records.

Mr. Liggins also made his donation to Dr. Jones’ House campaign six weeks before the city announced in late February that Urban One was among the casino competitors.

Dr. Jones said the donation should not be considered a problem because he has only a limited role to play in the casino selection process.

He said he does not have a personal stake in the Urban One bid, he doesn’t sit on the selection committee and his council district does not contain any of the casino sites that have been or are currently being considered.

“I don’t have a dog in this fight,” he said.

No evidence has surfaced to contradict that statement or to show that Dr. Jones has a personal or family connection or financial tie to the Urban One proposal, which the Free Press was told would be needed to create a conflict of interest under current state law.

Like most of the nine City Council members, Dr. Jones said his only role will be to vote on whether to send the name of the city’s recommended finalist to the voters on a November ballot referendum. He said he would vote “yes” when the casino plan comes before City Council because “I’m for leaving it up to the people of Richmond” as to whether the city gets a casino.

He said he is waiting like everyone else to find out the site and the operator that an internal city panel will recommend.

Two City Council members, Council Vice President Ellen F. Robertson, 6th District, and Andreas D. Addison, 1st District, are serving on the city’s evaluation panel.

Dr. Jones has said he personally favors the Urban One proposal, but said he has not spoken to either Ms. Robertson or Mr. Addison “about the casino.”