Sarah Abubaker announces for 4th District City Council seat

Sarah Abubaker today announced her candidacy for the 4th District City Council seat:

Richmond, VA – Sarah Abubaker, a long-time fourth district resident, announced her intention to run for the Richmond City Council. Current Councilmember, Kristen Nye, is not seeking re-election and has endorsed Sarah Abubaker’s candidacy. 

“When I moved to the fourth district more than 13 years ago, I knew there was nowhere else in Richmond I wanted to be,” said Sarah. “From that point on, I committed myself to understanding the community I live in, and to being an advocate for my neighbors and all of the people and places that make this area so unique and special.”

Sarah joined the Westover Hills Neighborhood Association (WHNA) in 2011 and served as Welcome Committee chair, Vice President, and eventually President of the Association from 2016-19. As President of WHNA, Sarah focused on increasing the civic engagement of residents and supporting the growth of local businesses. Sarah helped shepherd The Hill Standard, the mixed-use development that houses Blanchards, The Veil Brewing and Stella’s Market.

Sarah will continue to prioritize supporting local entrepreneurs and businesses that bring value to their communities. Her campaign will also focus on investing in our parks, including the James River Park System, which is one of the gems of the fourth district, as well as improving liveability for all residents and ensuring that City Hall provides high-quality, efficient services. 

Throughout her career, Sarah has demonstrated her ability to lead with integrity, collaborate effectively and drive positive change. She seeks common ground and is solution-oriented to achieve the best results for the greatest number of people. As proof of Sarah’s commitment to commonsense governing, current Councilmember Kristen Nye has chosen to endorse her run for the seat she will be vacating.  “Sarah and I worked closely together during her tenure as WHNA President.  I am confident she will represent the fourth district with pride and integrity that is reflective of our community.  Her support of smart development and sound fiscal oversight, as well as her deep love of the James River Park System, will make her the ideal candidate for this position.”

Sarah and her partner, Nick, live in Forest Hill with their son, Felix. Sarah is a graduate of James Madison University and the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia. She received her Master of Public Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2013. Sarah has served on many nonprofit boards, most recently as the Vice Chair of the Richmond Performing Arts Alliance. She is also an adjunct Assistant Professor of Mass Communications at Virginia State University. 

Sarah will begin her campaign by visiting various areas in the district and meeting with residents to learn about their needs and priorities. “It has always been a dream of mine to serve my community on a broader scale and I would consider it an honor to be elected to represent the people of the fourth district,” said Abubaker. Residents are encouraged to contact Sarah’s campaign at 4thdistrict@sarahabubaker.com to learn more about her priorities and to get involved.