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School Board election shakeup

Jeremy M. Lazarus | 1/18/2024, 6 p.m.
After six years on the School Board, Kenya Gibson is seeking to move up to City Council.
Ms. Gibson

After six years on the School Board, Kenya Gibson is seeking to move up to City Council.

On Tuesday, the 3rd District School Board member announced she will challenge first-term incumbent Ann-Frances Lambert for the North Side district’s council seat.

Ms. Gibson is one of at least three members who will not be seeking re-election to the nine-member governing board for Richmond Public Schools in the upcoming November election.

Ms. Gibson has represented the 3rd District since 2017 when she won a special election to replace Jeffrey M. Bourne after he won a seat in the House of Delegates.

Her departure is likely to trigger a competitive race in the North Side district for the seat.

The departure of two-term 1st District representative Elizabeth “Liz” Doerr also is expected to result in a competitive race for her seat.

Ms. Doerr, who currently is vice chair, has already notified colleagues that she will not seek re-election to the West End seat.

A competitive election also is anticipated for the 9th District seat in South Side that Nicole Jones resigned. She left after being appointed to fill the 9th District council seat that was left empty with the departure of Dr. Michael J. Jones to the House of Delegates.

A fourth School Board seat could become vacant if Dawn C. Page decides to leave the 8th District post in South Side. According to several sources, Ms. Page has hinted to colleagues that she would leave the seat, and there have been rumors she might try to challenge incumbent Reva M. Trammell for the district’s council seat.

However, Ms. Page told the Free Press this week that she is still considering her options.

There are expectations that there could be two open seats on the council as well.

So far there is only one open seat, the 9th District seat, where

Ms. Jones is expected to face one or more challengers to her bid for her first full four-year term.

There could be another open seat if 1st District Councilman Andreas D. Addison runs for mayor. While he has yet to announce, Mr. Addison also has been privately saying that he plans to give up his seat to run for the city’s elected chief executive post.

Uncertainty still surrounds two other council incumbents, Ellen F. Robertson. 6th District, and Cynthia I. Newbille, 7th District, who have yet to announce their plans.

The other five members, including Ms. Lambert, have indicated they will seek re-election.