In addition to the individuals I named in Scramble for Vacant City Council Seat Begins, December 26, 2006, another potential candidate, Whitney Dotson, is getting some play. Whitney is a second generation Richmond native who has distinguished himself in a leadership position involving a number of quality of life issues. He is a public health consultant with a master's degree from UC Berkeley.

As a member of TRAC, Dotson has been instrumental in moving the Bay Trail to completion in Richmond (Richmond Bay Trail New Year Report, January 11, 2007), and he has also been a leader in saving Breuner Marsh and the North Richmond shoreline for future generations.

Like Booze, Dotson would increase the African-American representation on the City Council from 22% up to 33%, much closer to the 36% of the Richmond population, providing a better match for the City’s diversity.

For me, the most frustrating part of the process is that, unlike a regular election, candidates are not compelled to provide the public with their experience and qualifications. They do not have to answer tough questions about where they stand on public policy issues, and there are no debates. Support and votes are arranged in private, often in violation of the Brown Act, and once a credible candidate is nominated, Council members may be reluctant to vote against a popular resident that may be their colleague and with whom they may have to work for the next two years.