On June 2^nd, 2026 we will have a chance to use the full weight of the electoral process to determine who will represent us on the Richmond City Council for the next four years.

In an effort to help level the playing field, Radio Free Richmond has extended an offer to all six candidates for the Council to post their own words to let you, the voters, know their positions on what they believe to be the important issues.

THIS IS FREE PUBLICITY.

The candidates have also been invited to post guest editorials on the issues of importance.

RFR will post a new candidate statement every couple of days.

RADIO FREE RICHMOND DOES NOT ENDORSE CANDIDATES—THEY OFFER A PLATFORM FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO EXPRESS IDEAS ON ISSUES OF VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY

Hi Richmond,

My name is Brandon Evans, and I’m running for Richmond City Council District 3 because I believe our city is at a point where we need leadership that is both rooted in the community and ready to move with intention.

I’m a 4^th generation District 3 resident—my family’s roots in Richmond go back to 1940, when my grandmother, Floria Evans, arrived here with her husband and two young children. I was born and raised on the Southside, and while that doesn’t define everything about me, it is my foundation—it’s where my story starts and what drives the work I do today. I’ve seen this city at its best, and I’ve seen where we’ve struggled, and that perspective has shaped how I approach this work.

Throughout my career, I’ve focused on working with people who are often closest to the challenges but furthest from the resources. Today, as CEO of Men and Women of Purpose, I lead a reentry and workforce organization supporting justice-impacted individuals and families across Contra Costa County. That work is hands-on—helping people find employment, navigate court systems, reunify with their children, and build stability after incarceration. It’s not theoretical. It’s direct, day-to-day work that gives me a clear understanding of how our systems function and where they fall short.

Before that, I worked for the City of Richmond in the Employment and Training Department, where I helped run the Summer Youth Employment Program serving over 1,000 young people each summer. That experience showed me the impact of early opportunity—how access to a job, mentorship, and structure can change the trajectory of a young person’s life.

I also served as a District Representative in the Contra Costa County District 5 Supervisor’s Office—first under Supervisor Federal Glover and then under Supervisor Shanelle Scales-Preston. In that role, I worked directly with residents navigating county systems, often stepping in when people didn’t know where else to turn. That experience gave me a deeper understanding of how local government works—and just as importantly, where it doesn’t work as well as it should.

Earlier in my career, I served as Program Director at the Richmond Police Activities League, where we led a youth diversion program in partnership with the Richmond Police Department. That work focused on creating real alternatives for young people and helping them avoid deeper involvement in the justice system.

In addition to my professional work, I’ve also been involved in shaping local leadership. I managed grassroots campaigns here in Richmond, including Demnlus Johnson in 2018, and more recently Dr. Jamelia Brown for City Council and Guadalupe Enllana for the West Contra Costa Unified School District in 2024. Those experiences reinforced for me how important it is that our leadership reflects the community and stays connected to it.

I’ve also served on Richmond’s Economic Development Commission and Planning Commission, contributing to conversations around small business recovery, economic development, and long-term planning for our city.

All of these experiences—working in the community, inside local government, and alongside residents—have given me a practical understanding of the challenges we’re facing and the gaps that still exist.

Public safety continues to be one of the most consistent concerns I hear from residents. People want to feel safe in their neighborhoods, and that means being honest about the issues we’re dealing with—from sideshows and reckless driving to illegal dumping and ongoing concerns tied to encampments in public spaces. Addressing these challenges requires a balanced approach—one that includes enforcement where necessary, but also prevention and intervention strategies that actually reduce issues over time.

At the same time, we have to create more opportunity. Richmond has too much potential to still be dealing with underdeveloped corridors, vacant storefronts, and residents who can’t access the jobs being created around them. We should be investing in small businesses, activating our commercial areas, and expanding workforce pathways—especially for young people and those working to rebuild their lives.

I also believe city government needs to be more responsive and more connected to the people it serves. Too often, residents feel like their concerns aren’t being heard or that decisions are made without their input. Leadership should be visible, accessible, and focused on follow-through—not just conversation.

I bring both lived experience and an academic background in Urban Studies and Public Leadership, but more importantly, I bring a track record of working across systems and showing up for this community in different capacities.

I’m not running to figure it out—I’m running ready.

This campaign is about making sure Richmond moves forward with clear priorities, practical solutions, and leadership that understands both the challenges and the opportunities in front of us.

I’m asking for your support as we do that work together.

Best,

Brandon Evans

Candidate for Richmond City Council

District 3