Former state delegate Joe Morrissey is the father of a new daughter, born this afternoon, named Bella Noel Morrissey.
But there may be more news on the way. A week from today, Morrissey says, he’ll address speculations about his candidacy for the office of mayor.
Speaking to Style tonight, he says he plans to “make his intentions known” at a press conference Thursday, March 31, at 6 p.m., at the Satellite Lounge on Jefferson Davis Highway, as reported earlier by the Times-Dispatch.
Leading up to the event, Morrissey plans to meet with 30 pastors from across the city Tuesday to discuss what he thinks should be the priorities for the next mayor.
Morrissey’s family news comes on a day when two other candidates for mayor made their intentions official, although the date to file is June 14.
Architect and former City Council member Bruce Tyler confirmed to the Times-Dispatch earlier today that he plans to seek office. The West End resident served two terms on council before losing his seat in 2012. He plans to run for mayor as an independent but sought the Republican nomination for a Virginia state Senate last year. He dropped out of the race after a few months.
Tyler says that improving the Richmond Public School system and providing basic services are top priorities.
“We need to be working with the school board and [Superintendent Dana] Bedden to get them where they need to be,” he says. “We need to be a government that takes care of the daily things we face as citizens, like walking on sidewalks and driving on roads — that’s critical.”
Venture Richmond’s Jack Berry is in the running too. He announced his resignation today after 18 years as the organization’s director. While the official announcement didn’t specify his plans to run, a later tweet said, “Sad to say goodbye to our exec dir Jack Berry but very happy to see him running to become the next mayor of #RVA.”
Berry is a former Hanover County administrator. During his tenure at Venture Richmond, he oversaw initiatives to promote downtown development and oversee festivals and other promotional events. He told Style in February that he planned to announce his intentions in April.
Community activists Rick Tatnall and Lillie Estes, City Council President Michelle Mosby and Richmond Public Schools teacher Chad Ingold also have formally announced their plans to run. Other candidates also are expected to announce, getting the race off to a crowded beginning.
Most candidates seem to be planning to attend an April 6 forum organized by former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder, to be held at Virginia Union University.
