Candidate for
Mayor; City of Richmond

Jobs

Uche has seen the devastating impact that the jobs crisis continues to have on Richmond, as too many of our citizens continue to struggle to find work despite their best efforts to do so. He is committed to improving Richmond's business climate by building public and private partnerships, in order to create new economic opportunities and attract the jobs that we so desperately need. Uche's current business focuses on expanding the operations of small businesses to include a diverse investment strategy and workforce. Working in this field, Uche knows what it takes to change the 35% unemployment rate of our youth and the importance of investing in sustainable jobs for Richmond residents.

Uche wants to expand the operations of the Richmond Port to a more global economic engine for Richmond. Subsequently, this includes the removal of Port control from the City Council and establishment of the Richmond Port Authority. Uche truly believes that Richmond can become an East Bay technology hub. He wants to create the first public/private 501(c)3 joint tech incubator venture in Richmond in order to teach our young people how to build apps, code, web design, and cloud based 21st century innovation.

Safety

As a longtime resident of Richmond and a father of two, Uche is devoted to making Richmond a safe and appealing community for families and businesses. While we have seen an improvement in recent years, we must continue to lower our crime rate and reduce the violence in our neighborhoods. This requires a multi-faceted approach that involves not only our police force, but also local organizations, community leaders, and concerned citizens. For over a decade, Uche worked as a social worker providing services and advocacy for individuals newly released from the criminal justice system, persons with psychiatric disabilities, and the homeless. As a social worker, Uche saw firsthand what it takes to create safety in our community and the need to reform policies. For Richmond to thrive there must be an image change that begins with making our communities safer.

Education

Like every concerned parent in Richmond, Uche will work to improve our school system so we can provide our children with the education they need and deserve. As a product of the Washington, D.C. public school system and an educator himself, Uche understands that a good education is critical to our children's success and opportunity in the years to come. "We do not have enough skilled workers in the city to compete for new jobs. We need to change the culture of our public education system to bring forth innovative solutions to the way we teach." Uche wants to work with the school district to establish a technical school in Richmond as part of his diverse approach to creating a skilled workforce.