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Celebrating Outgoing and Incoming Leaders

"We will reflect the sunlight directly and make this city shine," declared Mayor Eduardo Martinez as he acknowledged that a historic supermajority of women will now lead the Richmond City Council. The swearing in ceremony took place on January 7, 2025.

Jamelia Brown (District 1), Sue Wilson (District 5), and Claudia Jimenez (District 6) were met with warm applause—while outgoing councilmembers Gayle McLaughlin (District 5) and Melvin Willis (District 1) expressed heartfelt thanks for the opportunity to serve.

Pastor Eric Morris led a rousing invocation, followed by honors for Councilmember McLaughlin and Councilmember Willis by local leaders and community-based organizations. Alicia Jimenez, Daughter of Vice Mayor Jimenez, delivered a Spanish translation of the oath of office to the incoming council.

County and State Recognition

Recognition from Congressman John Garamendi

Harpreet Sandhu, District Senior Representative from the Office of Congressman John Garamendi, congratulated McLaughlin's stalwart championship of all working people. "She worked to increase richness, [the] minimum wage, promote community choice, aggregation, support public schools, and advocate for immigrant rights."

Meanwhile, Councilmember Willis was praised for organizing homegrown campaigns to support residents. His accomplishments over the past 8 years include introducing a significant minimum wage increase ordinance, extending healthcare options for the undocumented, and improving rent control protections.

Praise from Contra Costa County Supervisor John Gioia

Supervisor John Gioia shared a touching recollection of Councilmember McLaughlin's key role in securing federal and county funding to establish a community health center in San Pablo.

Gioia also outlined Councilmember Willis' deep care and attention to the issues that have affected Richmond's most vulnerable community members. "It wasn't just about the policies you advocated for. It was your personal work on individuals—and that says a lot about who you are as a person as well."

Closing Words from Councilmember Gayle McLaughlin

Councilmember McLaughlin delivered a stirring speech to close out over 20 years of public service—thanking her husband, Paul Kilkenny, and campaign manager Juan Reardon. She also acknowledged longstanding community partners such as the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE), the Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN), the Point Molate Alliance, the Richmond Progressive Alliance, the Richmond Shoreline Alliance, The Richmond Southeast Shoreline Advisory Group, Safe Organized Spaces (SOS), and more.

20+ Years of Service to Richmond

Together with a progressive majority on the Richmond City Council, McLaughlin set a new tone for governance. Her most recent accomplishments have included helping to close a $550 million tax settlement with major polluter Chevron; significantly reducing violence and crime; improving rent control protections; defending immigrant rights and the criminalization of homelessness; raising the city's minimum wage; rejecting a disastrous gambling casino development; safeguarding Point Molate as a national park for future generations; strengthening the Citizen's Police Review Commission; and condemning investment in ongoing foreign wars.

"When I first took office, the city was in shambles," she said. "With a $35 million deficit, closed community centers, and massive layoffs...Collectively, we worked to raise the minimum wage, tax Chevron and place regulations on their pollution, significantly reduce violence and crime, pass our rent control law, defend immigrant rights and homeless criminalization, reject a gambling casino, support unions, defend homeowners, strengthen our Citizen's Review Police Commission, demand environmental integrity, condemn foreign wars, improve our parks and force Chevron to pay more of its fair share of taxes. People's interests were at the center of all our collective actions, and our community is stronger." — Gayle McLaughlin, Former Councilmember, Richmond, CA.

Closing Words from Councilmember Melvin Willis

Councilmember Melvin Willis expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity to serve as well, thanking his colleagues for their collaborative approach. At just 26, he was the youngest councilmember elected in city history. During those early days, Willis noted feeling unsure and out of place. "When I first ran for city council, growing up in this community, I never believed in myself enough to think I would ever sit here doing something like this."

Willis also thanked longtime activist Juan Reardon, his first campaign manager, as well as McLaughlin, the first mayor he served with. "I thank everybody who has supported me over the years—everyone who's trusted and believed in me."

From spearheading a $550 Million settlement with Chevron to beautifying local spaces like Wendell Park, Willis can rest assured that his legacy will live on. "I can't wait to see the park—that's my childhood Park, Wendell—actually be redone and turned into a beautiful location that can have a lot of activity...I can't wait to see what this council does with that 550 million bringing services and resources to our community that have desperately needed it for decades," he added.

New Councilmembers Sworn In

Councilmember Sue Wilson

District 5's new councilmember Sue Wilson thanked family and friends for encouraging her to take up the mantle. "I appreciate everything that outgoing Councilmembers McLaughlin and Willis have done for this city, especially in terms of environmental health and access to affordable housing."

The Next Generation of Richmond Needs Progressive Leaders 

Wilson's campaign faced heavy competition from corporate-backed candidates who included the son of two former mayors. She emphasized a need for collective action and continued focus on the issues that matter to Richmond's working-class community. "If you don't live here [in Richmond], you're missing out,” she shared. "We also have to think about the future, what the next generation of Richmonders will wish that we did with the time that we have now."

Councilmember and Vice Mayor Claudia Jimenez

Councilmember and Vice Mayor Claudia Jimenez thanked her family and all residents who voted for continued progressive leadership. "Thank you to my son Antonio and my daughter Alicia, for being here with me. I am so proud to be your mom. Thank you to all District 6 residents who believe in my work, and recognize what I have done...The result of the District 6 election shows very clearly that residents want leadership that continues to advocate for improving services—for youth, seniors, and families, improving our public infrastructure—transforming the streets into the streets of the future, safe, accessible to all, green and equitable," she shared.

Combating Corporate Dollars in Local Politics

Like Wilson, Jimenez faced dirty smears from the corporate-funded candidates who openly criticized her advocacy for the underserved and unheard. While being snubbed by corporate powers, she received endorsement from grassroots activists within the Contra Costa Young Democrats, Democratic Socialists of America, and other organizations, who propelled her to victory.

Thank-You's From The Richmond Community

A Call for Unity and Collaboration

At the close of the meeting, Richmond activists, community-based organizations, nonprofits, and residents came together to welcome the new administration and thank outgoing Councilmembers for their decades of community service.

"Gayle started the transformation of the city 20 years ago. Congratulations to the newly elected officials Sue [and] Claudia. I encourage you strongly to take Gayle's example: her integrity, her kindness, solidarity, her dreams, her actions, the results obtained, [and] the hopes maintained. Keep corporate money out of Richmond politics, showing others how it's done." — Juan Reardon, Activist, Richmond, CA.

"All I ask of the new Councilmembers is that they be catalysts, not obstacles to progress." — Elsa Stevens, Activist, Richmond, CA.

"Outgoing Councilmembers, Gayle McLaughlin and Melvin Willis...Thank you so much for showing up for environmental justice, housing…[and] reimagining public safety. All of these issues that you [championed] all led to so many successes and really paved the way for other leaders. [I'm] really looking forward to working and continuing to work with Claudia Jimenez on holding our polluters accountable. And also working with Jamelia Brown and Sue Wilson just to keep building resilience and also a real just transition for the city of Richmond." — Emma Ishii, Local Policy Coordinator, Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN).

"We deeply appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with Councilmembers Jimenez and Wilson during their campaigns, and we look forward to engaging with Councilmember Dr. Brown as well as the rest of this council to uplift our students, educators, and our families in Richmond." — Francisco Ortiz, President, United Teachers of Richmond (UTR).

"Gayle McLaughlin and Melvin Willis...you really took the forefront of turning the city around. And the courage that you have shown and the way that you can articulate how and what needs to be changed has been absolutely invaluable." — Tarnel Abbott, Activist, Richmond, CA.

What’s Next for Progressives on Council?

With the departures of Councilmember McLaughlin and Councilmember Willis, RPA-endorsed candidates no longer hold a majority on the dais. However, we remain hopeful that we as an organization still wield the influence needed to hold our elected officials accountable.

We welcome residents and those who work in or are regularly active in the Richmond community to join RPA. Click here to explore ways to get involved.

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