Celebrating a hometown hero B2
Richmond Free Press © 2019 Paradigm Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.
VOL. 28 NO. 24
Mr. Morrissey
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA
www.richmondfreepress.com
Upset
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Fr ee
Denzel’s lifetime achievement B2
JUNE 13-15, 2019
Sen. Dance
Challenger ‘Joe’ Morrissey garners Petersburg support to handily beat incumbent Sen. Rosalyn Dance in Tuesday’s primary Only one other incumbent was ousted in the 35 General Assembly nominating contests around the state, first-term RepubChallenger Joseph D. “Joe” Morrissey, proving tougher and lican Delegate Bob Thomas of Stafford, who lost to a rival who more resilient than his critics anticipated, cruised Tuesday to a challenged the delegate’s conservative credentials and support surprisingly easy victory over incumbent state Sen. Rosalyn R. for expanding Medicaid in Virginia to cover a larger number of Dance of Petersburg in a Democratic primary election. low-income adults. The feisty, scandal-plagued 61-year-old Richmond resident The Dance-Morrissey contest took center stage in the Richput himself on track to enter the state Senate in January after mond area, and the outcome appeared to election observers as a voter revolt in the Senate district against the Democratic establishment that had pushed Sen. Dance’s re-election. Mr. Morrissey’s capture of the Democratic nomination virtually assures his election in November in a district that is so heavily Democratic that Republicans are not fielding a candidate. However, Mr. Morrissey is expected to have at least one independent challenger, Waylin K. Ross of Petersburg, owner of a business service center and Richmond Public Schools founder of the nonprofit DNA is turning out scholars. of Petersburg Excellence, who The highest-achieving stuqualified Tuesday to be on the dents in the Class of 2019 at November ballot. each of the city’s high schools At his victory party in Pewere celebrated at the annual tersburg, Mr. Morrissey, a forValedictorian Luncheon held mer Richmond prosecutor and May 30 at the Science Museum former member of the House of of Virginia. Delegates who commuted from Theme for the event: “Dream jail to the state Capitol after Big & Dare to Fail.” a misdemeanor conviction of The students were inspired contributing to the delinquency by the luncheon speaker, Richof a minor, described himself mond teacher Rodney A. Robinas “euphoric” but “ready to go Richmond Public Schools photo son, the 2019 National Teacher to work.” Richmond Public Schools valedictorians, from left: Jordan Baker of Community High, Lahjae White-Patterson of the Year. Sen. Dance came into the They were lauded by RPS of Huguenot, Laura Blackwell of Armstrong, William Wilkins of Franklin Military Academy, Alexis Stokes of John election with a huge money Superintendent Jason Kamras, Marshall, Chantal Hernandez of Open High, Majestic Colley of George Wythe and Cozette Bell-Ferguson of advantage and the endorseThomas Jefferson. members of the School Board ments of U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, Franklin Military Academy: William Wilkins, versity of Virginia. and other elected officials in attendance. Gov. Ralph S. Northam, former Open High: Chantal Hernandez, 4.88 GPA, The top scholars also were each awarded a laptop 4.35 GPA, Virginia Commonwealth University. Gov. Terry McAuliffe, the VirHuguenot: Lahjae White-Patterson, 4.63 GPA, University of Virginia. by sponsors Best Buy and CodeVa. ginia Legislative Black Caucus Richmond Community: Jordan Baker, 4.70 This year’s valedictorians, and where they plan Virginia Tech. and some elected officials in Thomas Jefferson: Cozette Bell-Ferguson, 4.87 GPA, University of Virginia. to matriculate in the fall, are: Richmond. George Wythe: Majestic Colley, 3.92 GPA, Old Armstrong: Laura Diara Blackwell, 4.06 GPA, GPA, Temple University. However, Mr. Morrissey John Marshall: Alexis Stokes, 4.57 GPA, Uni- Dominion University. Virginia Tech. By Jeremy M. Lazarus
receiving 56 percent of the vote in the majority-black 16th Senate District that stretches from Richmond’s East End to the Petersburg-Hopewell area. Cementing his reputation as the “comeback kid” of Virginia politics, Mr. Morrissey crushed Sen. Dance’s hopes of a second four-year term after winning what state election experts called an astonishing 72 percent of the vote in Sen. Dance’s hometown of Petersburg.
Top of the class
Please turn to A4
Armstrong graduation figures better than initial report By Jeremy M. Lazarus
Armstrong High School is providing best evidence that more seniors are graduating from Richmond Public Schools this year than the public could have expected given the pessimistic projections released three weeks ago by Superintendent Jason Kamras and his staff. Armstrong High was supposed to graduate only 108 seniors this year, according to a chart RPS Chief Academic Officer Tracy Epp presented to the Richmond School Board on May 20. Ms. Epp’s chart, which was published in the Free Press
May 23-25 edition and widely distributed on social media, also showed that another 54 Armstrong seniors would have to attend summer school or return next year to complete requirements for a diploma. But none of those figures proved to be correct when Armstrong held its graduation ceremony on Sunday, June 9, according to new information the Free Press obtained. Armstrong actually awarded 155 diplomas at the ceremony — a 43 percent increase over the projection. In addition, only 21 of the 176 seniors were notified that they would have to attend summer school or return next year.
Graduation figures for other city schools that held ceremonies this week could not be obtained before Wednesday’s Free Press publishing deadline. Ms. Epp is to present the School Board with updated figures next Monday, June 17. However, the Armstrong numbers are raising concerns about the administration’s ability to compile accurate data. The huge differences forced Mr. Kamras and Ms. Epp to apologize for putting out incorrect information and creating what both described as anxiety for students, families and Please turn to A4
Agelasto’s council fate may rest with June 18 hearing
children last summer from Floyd Avenue in the 5th District to a Franklin Street home Parker C. Agelasto’s service on Rich- in the 1st District. mond City Council is now in the hands of Mr. El-Amin also has filed a request with a Richmond Circuit Court judge the court for a declaratory judgafter months of controversy over ment that Mr. Agelasto has vacated the 5th District councilman’s move the seat as a result of the move. to a home outside the district. But a hearing on that request has Judge W. Reilly Marchant is not been scheduled. scheduled on Tuesday, June 18, Mr. Agelasto previously anto hear a request to issue a temnounced he would resign at the porary injunction to immediately end of November, and seven or bar Mr. Agelasto from continuing more people are now gearing up Mr. Agelasto to represent the district. to run to fill the final 13 months Should Judge Marchant issue the injunc- of his term that ends in December 2020. tion, Mr. Agelasto would be out, and City The special election will coincide with Council likely would need to temporarily the Nov. 5 general election. appoint someone to fill his seat until a special Mr. Agelasto’s resignation was arranged election is held in November. through a deal with outgoing CommonSa’ad El-Amin, a former 6th District wealth’s Attorney Michael N. Herring to council representative who currently spe- avoid Mr. Herring filing for a court writ to cializes in administrative law, is pushing have him removed. for the injunction as part of his overall Among those considering filing to run by strategy to force the immediate removal of Please turn to A4 Mr. Agelasto, who moved with his wife and
Saying goodbye
By Jeremy M. Lazarus
By Ronald E. Carrington
Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press
The family of 9-year-old Markiya Dickson grieves during a vigil June 6 at Carter Jones Park, where the youngster was shot and killed. They are, from left, her dad, Mark Whitfield Sr., who is holding young Mark Jr.; mother Ciara Dickson; sister Samaya Dickson; and uncle Dion Tuell.
More than 1,000 people from across Metro Richmond came out to honor the life of 9-year-old Markiya Dickson, the Chesterfield County third-grader who was shot and killed at Carter Jones Park in South Side during the Memorial Day Weekend. The noon service, held June 7 at the Arthur Ashe Jr. Athletic Center in Richmond, started with great solemnity and tears, but grew into a celebration of the beautiful, spirited child who loved and was loved by her parents, family, schoolmates, teachers and friends. The Rev. Robert Winfree of New Life Deliverance Tabernacle in South Richmond recited Bible verses as a funeral cortege of more than 450 family members, friends and others walked Please turn to A4