Candidate denies allegations about residency in 8th District City Council contest

A flyer making the rounds of the 8th District claims that Frank Wilson – challenger to incumbent Reva Trammell for the City Council seat – does not live in the district and is instead using a church-owned property as a decoy address.

The flyer purports to show a list of days and times that Wilson was at the disputed Gordon Avenue residence over a 10 day period, implying that he does not live there. The flyer also allegedly shows Wilson checking a mailbox at a Goochland residence in his name.

Wilson says this is “a narrative that I would like to have the opportunity to rebut.” He states that the Gordon Avenue “is the residence I established in order to qualify to run for office” in April of this year, and that he is renting it from Redeemed Assembly of Jesus Christ.

Residency is one of the few requirements to run for City Council in Richmond. Chapter 3. Elections in the City of Richmond Charter says that “Each council member elected in accordance with this section shall reside in the election district from which such member was elected throughout the member’s term on the council.” In recent years, Parker Agelasto resigned his 5th District City Council seat in 2019 after moving to the 1st District with 18 months left in his 2nd term. In 2012 incumbent 9th District City Council representative Doug Connor lost to Michell Mosby when it came to light that he seemed to be living in Chesterfield County.

A spokesperson for the Reva Trammell campaign confirmed the authenticity of the “Authorized and paid for by the Reva Trammell for City Council” tag on the flyer, and said “we stand behind the truthfulness of all of Reva’s campaign literature.”

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