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

JAMIN PURSELL

for

RICHMOND CITY COUNCIL

DISTRICT 4

WHY I AM RUNNING

I am running for Richmond City Council District 4 because I believe every neighborhood deserves to feel like it belongs.

I have lived in Richmond longer than anywhere else in my life. It is the first place I was able to truly grow roots. It gave me community, purpose, and the feeling that I was part of something bigger than myself. That matters.

Richmond is not perfect, but it is home.

It is a city of people who care deeply. People who check on their neighbors. People who volunteer at schools, support local charities, mentor young people, show up for community cleanups, and fight for the future they want to see. Richmond is built by people who believe in each other, even when the system makes that hard.

That is the Richmond I know. That is the Richmond I love.

District 4 is often treated like the part of the city that gets remembered last. Because our neighborhoods are quieter, people assume everything must be fine. But our residents know better. We still need safer streets, better lighting, stronger emergency response, well-maintained parks, thriving businesses, and real investment in Hilltop and our commercial corridors. We need city services that show up before people have to beg for them.

District 4 deserves more than being an afterthought.

I am running because I want to help bring both sides of I-80 together and ensure every part of our district receives the same attention, respect, and investment. No neighborhood should feel invisible.

PUTTING COMMUNITY FIRST

My life and work have always centered around building community. I have worked with nonprofits, neighborhood groups, environmental organizations, local Democratic clubs, Richmond Rainbow Pride, and community leaders across this city. I have helped raise money for charities, organize major public events, support local businesses, write policy language, and create spaces where people feel welcomed and included.

I am also a small business owner and an artist. I know what it means to build something from the ground up. I understand the discipline of solving problems with limited resources and the responsibility of making sure people can trust your word.

THE BEST CHOICE FOR DISTRICT 4

Drop me anywhere in District 4, and I can navigate every corner. The best local cafes, hidden gem businesses, and neighborhood gathering spots. I know this district because I live in it every day.

From organizing neighborhood watch groups to planning community events for over a decade, I've demonstrated a deep commitment to building a community we can all call home. I have no political ambitions beyond Richmond.

This position isn't a stepping stone—it's where I want to serve. For too long, neighbors have come to me, frustrated that their Councilmember has focused primarily on one area of the district. District 4 is more than El Sobrante. It's Hilltop, May Valley, Carriage Hills, Country Club Vista, and every neighborhood in between. We're one district. It's time we had representation that acts like it.

CONNECTING DISTRICT 4 TO ALL RICHMOND

At the center of everything, I believe, is one simple truth: people do better when they feel like they belong.

Belonging is not just a slogan. It means your street gets fixed. Your park gets maintained. Your business has a fair chance. Your family feels safe. Your neighborhood is included in the planning before the decisions are made.

It also means learning how to work with people, even when you disagree.

We do not agree with our partner 100 percent of the time. So why do we expect that of everyone else?

Leadership is about listening, finding common ground, and building trust. Richmond needs people willing to sit at the same table, have honest conversations, and move forward together, even when we disagree.

That is how real progress happens.

My priorities are public safety, economic development, and infrastructure.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND INFRASTRUCTURE

Public safety starts with trust, visibility, and response. Families deserve police, fire, code enforcement, and emergency services that are fully staffed and responsive. But safety is also about lighting on Hillview and Hilltop Drive, clean public spaces, working streetlights, maintained sidewalks, and knowing your neighborhood is cared for.

Economic development means finally delivering on Hilltop's promise. The Hilltop is an opportunity to transform that area into something that works for the people who already live here, not just outside investors. We need small businesses, walkable spaces, housing options, green space, and jobs that benefit residents and working families.

Infrastructure is about dignity. Roads, sidewalks, parks, public buildings, and basic city systems shape everyday life. When they are neglected, people feel forgotten. When they are maintained, people feel respected.

I’M READY TO DO THE WORK

I believe I am the stronger choice because I am not running to perform politics. I am running to get the work done.

I know how to listen. I know how to organize. I know how to build coalitions and follow through. I understand that Richmond’s problems will not be solved by speeches alone. They are solved by showing up consistently, asking better questions, and staying after the cameras are gone.

This election matters because Richmond is at a turning point. The decisions we make now about Hilltop, public safety, housing, parks, and infrastructure will shape District 4 for decades.

We need leadership that understands both policy and people.

We need someone who knows how to bring neighbors, workers, families, businesses, and community organizations together instead of pushing them further apart.

I am running because I love this city.

I am running because District 4 deserves leadership that recognizes its full potential and will see it through.

I am running because everyone deserves to feel like they belong in Richmond’s future.

And I am ready to do the work.

Let’s build the District 4 we deserve together. I am ready to do the work.

LEARN MORE AND GET INVOLVED AT

JAMIN4RICHMOND.COM.