The race for mayor will be filled with critical discussions on many topics: our public schools, neighborhood safety, economic opportunity, the functioning of City Hall and transportation, to name a few. But those issues will be accompanied by some new ones. Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the growing threat to reproductive rights is a national issue, a state issue, and it’s a local issue. It’s a values issue.

From small towns to big cities, we’re seeing tragic consequences: In Texas, a ban that drove Katie Cox to battle the courts, a new ban on abortion passed in Florida, and the attempt to reinstate a law from 1864 that sets back women’s rights by 160 years in Arizona. But the Richmonders that I know won’t let that happen here. They know it’s not enough to say you “support” abortion rights and reproductive freedom, you have to protect those rights and believe in the right of people to make their own choices.

In 2024, we need to be clear about three things. First, protecting reproductive rights is not some theoretical issue, or one that can be simply “left to states” while ignoring the role of local government.

Second, this is about action and values – not the same old rhetoric. 

And third, in addition to being a human rights and health care issue, protecting abortion rights is critical to our economy.

In Virginia, we are the last Southern state where abortion remains legal – but – with one more vote in the General Assembly, opponents of abortion rights could enact an extreme ban. 

As mayor, I will stand with those who are fighting to protect this fundamental right, sending a clear message that Richmond is a city where reproductive freedom is valued and defended.

In recent years, we’ve seen attempts to use local zoning laws to restrict abortion access – from the most blue areas in Fairfax to some red areas in Bristol, Va. 

That’s why I supported City Council’s recent decision to approve another health care center location for the Virginia League for Planned Parenthood. Richmonders need to know that their mayor won’t allow our city to lose out on vital health care services including abortion. 

It will not be tolerated under my watch.

Richmonders deserve a mayor who understands that people’s views on this issue vary, and I respect that — that’s exactly why I am proudly pro-choice, advocating for the autonomy of individuals to make their own decisions about their bodies and futures. Ensuring access to comprehensive sex education and contraception is essential to empowering individuals to make informed choices about their health. This commitment to reproductive rights aligns with the values of our community — a community that rejects culture wars and out-of-touch politicians imposing their beliefs onto others.

For me, these values don’t come from a textbook, a news article, or a poll. They came from my kitchen table. It was conversations with my family as a kid that taught me the value of this right and the importance of our ongoing American story to expand rights, not constrict them. My mom has been a dedicated supporter of Planned Parenthood for nearly 50 years.She’s the one who taught me I couldn’t sit on the sidelines. 

From watching her, I learned that it was my responsibility, even if I wasn’t the one who was going to become pregnant, to stand for these rights. Mom never had to tell me those things. She showed me why it was important to believe in them. It’s not just about politicians making decisions; it’s about women and their healthcare providers having the freedom to make the best choices for themselves.

Reproductive rights are an issue of freedom and health care – but they are also an economic one both for individuals and businesses. Restricting access to reproductive choice removes the freedom for women to make decisions to plan for their family and their livelihood. More broadly, as more people and businesses want to locate in Richmond, adding to our thriving and diverse community, we can create economic opportunity.

The Richmond that we’re building will evaporate if politicians drag local governments into the culture wars. Ensuring that women can make their own choices is right for them – and for our economic development.

As we look to Richmond’s future, let us remember that our city’s greatness lies in its commitment to protecting the rights, freedoms, and opportunities of all its residents. Together, we will continue to fight for a Richmond where reproductive rights are not only supported but fiercely defended – because when we protect these rights, we uphold the dignity and autonomy of every individual in our community, and make Richmond a better place to live, work and raise a family.

The writer is a candidate for mayor of Richmond.