Ahmad Anderson
Candidate for Mayor, Richmond · Human Resources Director
Ahmad Anderson is a lifelong Richmond resident with more than 55 years in the Laurel Park neighborhood. He is the son of Rev. Booker T. Anderson Jr., a former Richmond City Councilmember and Mayor, and Irma L. Anderson, a former Richmond City Councilmember and the first Black female mayor of a major California city. A UC Berkeley graduate inducted into the Cal Athletics Hall of Fame, he has held human-resources leadership roles including Director of People & Culture at the Gardens of Golden Gate Park and SFJAZZ, and Human Resources Director at an international corporation employing 380,000 people, along with leadership positions at Goodwill Industries and the National Pacifica Foundation. He chaired Richmond's Economic Development Commission from 2021 to 2023, serves as a block captain in Laurel Park, sits on the board of Fair Housing Advocates of Northern California, and chairs the data committee of the city's Racial Equity Task Force. He previously ran unsuccessfully for the Richmond City Council District 5 seat in 2020 and 2022.
Positions in brief
Anderson focuses on workforce training ahead of major new employers, housing at varied income levels, license-plate-reading cameras for public safety, and more community input before city programs launch.
On housing he wants "reasonable housing, meeting people at those levels" rather than only luxury units, noting Richmond needs 4,000 units by 2035 but has issued only 386 permits, and says expansion must be paired with adequate city staffing. On public safety he strongly supports the Flock license-plate-reading camera system for tracking crime and accountability. On jobs he proposes an East Bay Workforce Center to train residents in technology and building trades before employers such as OpenAI arrive, emphasizing fair wages and shorter commutes. On government transparency he criticizes current leadership for asking questions about programs like Flock only after they launch, and wants community input on how Chevron settlement funds are spent. On budgeting he argues against balanced budgets that come at the cost of hiring the staff needed to deliver city services.
On the issues
- Housing & Homelessness
Wants "reasonable housing, meeting people at those levels" rather than only luxury units, and says housing expansion must be paired with adequate city staffing.
“reasonable housing, meeting people at those levels”
Source → - Public Safety & Policing
Strongly supports the Flock license-plate-reading camera system for tracking crime and accountability.
Source → - Economy & Jobs
Proposes an East Bay Workforce Center to train residents in technology and building trades before major employers arrive, emphasizing fair wages and shorter commutes.
Source → - Government, Elections & Democracy
Criticizes current leadership for seeking public input on programs like Flock only after implementation, and wants community input on how Chevron settlement funds are allocated.
Source → - Taxes & Cost of Living
Argues against pursuing a balanced budget if it comes at the cost of hiring the staff needed to deliver city services.
Source →
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