As early voting continues in Richmond, candidates for the Mayor’s Office took a more active role in answering questions and making their case to residents during a forum Tuesday evening hosted at VPM’s Chesterfield County studio.

Organized by VPM, 12 On Your Side and Chamber RVA, and moderated by VPM’s Angie Miles and 12 On Your Side’s Curt Autry, the forum provided questions tailored to the experiences of the candidates.

Candidates Andreas Addison, Danny Avula, Michelle Mosby, Maurice Neblett and Harrison Roday also were offered two “wild card” questions that let them to respond to questions directed toward others.

Addison used his first wild card to offer ideas to reduce property taxes through a new revenue strategy, the Richmond 300 Master Plan and creating new value by using vacant housing and land. He later used his second to tout his years in government for a question on improving city services and hiring employees.

“The job of mayor is to set the vision for the city and to know how to navigate with City Council, how to create policy and approve a budget with nine other people and nine other priorities to make sure we invest in every single thing we need to do,” Addison said. “I bring that as mayor.”

Neblett addressed questions on the meals tax and drug education using his wild cards to suggest accountability and tax relief measures such as tax freezes where necessary, and proposing a fentanyl task force, support groups and resource centers to combat drug issues.

“I want to focus on our economic development, our education, our infrastructure and our safety along with the housing crisis,” Neblett said. “It’s our time to have a person who represents us.”

Roday also used a wild card question to offer solutions on improving city services and hiring. His first one was used to showcase his unique qualities as a candidate, noting his position on reproductive health while also pointing out Avula’s previous work under Gov. Glenn A. Youngkin, who has worked to limit abortion access.

“Your next mayor needs to be the person who has the right combination of shared democratic values and experience to do the job,” Roday said. “I’m looking forward to earning your support.”

Avula rebutted Roday’s characterization of his time with the Youngkin administration, pointing to his work then and over the years to provide resources and services in multiple roles. He took a similar approach throughout the evening, including when using his wild cards to talk about the meals tax and property values.

“I’ve built teams, I’ve changed culture, I’ve improved service delivery,” Avula said. “You deserve a mayor that’s done that.”

Mosby used her wild cards to expand on an earlier response she gave on the meals tax and assisting restaurants, and later to highlight her unique perspective compared to other candidates, including on reproductive health. Many of her answers touted her work inside and outside government, her results and her community connections.

“We need someone that’s going to bring us all together so that we can get the collective impact we need to move this city forward,” Mosby said.

The candidates are set to meet again next Tuesday, Oct. 8, for the Arts & Culture Mayoral Forum at the Virginia Repertory Theatre from 6:30 to 8 p.m.