Warriors’ Durant wins MVP A10
Rasin scholarship recipients B3
Richmond Free Press © 2017 Paradigm Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.
VOL. 26 NO. 24
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA
www.richmondfreepress.com
ee Fr
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cele b rat ing our 2 5 t h A nniver s ar y
JUNE 15-17, 2017
Primed for November Primary winners Northam, Gillespie will carry Dem and GOP banners into gov. election By Jeremy M. Lazarus
Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press
Antionette Irving steps outside her election party Tuesday night to call her mother and share the news that she won the Democratic primary for Richmond sheriff. Her watch party at Cary 100 Restaurant & Lounge in Downtown turned into a victory party.
Irving beats longtime Richmond sheriff in major upset
Virginia’s next governor will either be Democrat Ralph S. Northam or Republican Edward W. “Ed” Gillespie. The choice of the competitors was made by 900,000 voters who trooped to the polls Tuesday to cast ballots in the primary elections for both political parties. The turnout — representing about 16 percent of the state’s 5.4 million registered voters —was larger than observers Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press expected. Mr. Gillespie Both men were the favorites to win their respective primary contests. After four years of serving as the No.2 state leader to Gov. Terry McAuliffe, Lt. Gov. Northam had a much easier time winning the nomination than his GOP rival and appears more likely to have a united party behind him. The 57-year-old pediatric neurologist and former state senator from Norfolk came into the Democratic primary leading in
By Jeremy M. Lazarus
By every measure, Antionette V. Irving seemed to have no shot of winning her third attempt to unseat Richmond Sheriff C.T. Woody Jr. The popular sheriff had crushed Ms. Irving by 4-1 and 5-1 margins in her previous Democratic primary attempts to unseat him in 2009 and 2013. For Tuesday’s primary, he had raised $100,000 to fuel his campaign, or 20 times her campaign war chest. In fact, her biggest donation was the $5,000 contribution she made. Ms. Irving, who had made history as the first woman to reach the rank of major in the Henrico Sheriff’s Department a few years earlier, was undeterred. The 52-year-old Richmond native undertook a gritty shoeleather campaign in which she and her six faithful supporters Please turn to A6
Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press
Voter in training Zahria Blocker, 17 months, accompanies her grandfather, Levonne Johnson, to the voting precinct on Tuesday so he could cast his ballot in the primary election. The youngster is getting early lessons on the importance of voting. Location: 31st Street Baptist Church in the East End.
the polls. And when the votes were counted, the results showed that he romped past his insurgent rival, one-term Congressman Tom S. Perriello, capturing 54 percent of the more 540,000 votes cast in the Democratic primary. Mr. Perriello, who jumped into the race in early January in the wake of President Trump’s election, carried the endorsements of two progressive icons, U.S. Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. Courtesy Northam campaign But he was hard-pressed to Lt. Gov. Northam differentiate himself from Lt. Gov. Northam, who came into the race with a fatter campaign war chest, an equally strong progressive record on issues ranging from health care to gun control and the endorsements of virtually every elected official in Virginia. Lt. Gov. Northam is eager now to turn to the general election set for Nov. 7 and keep Virginia’s top elected office in Democratic hands. “We’re ready to fight,” Lt. Gov. Northam told supporters at a post-election rally in Northern Virginia as he prepared to lead the Democratic ticket that will include newcomer Justin E. Fairfax as the lieutenant governor nominee and incumbent Attorney General Mark R. Herring, who sought a second term rather than challenge Lt. Gov. Northam. In a sign of a unified party, Mr. Perriello already has embraced the ticket and pledged his support. They will take on a Republican ticket representing a party that appears more splintered. The Republican vote certainly confirmed the split between those who ardently support President Trump and those who do not. Like Lt. Gov. Northam, Mr. Gillespie, 55, a former Republican National Committee chairman and counselor to former President George W. Bush, came into the three-way GOP gubernatorial primary expecting to win, having picked up most of the endorsements and financial support. However, Mr. Gillespie, who lost to U.S. Sen. Mark Warner in 2014, barely eked out a victory over Corey A. Stewart, President Trump’s one-time Virginia campaign director. More than 366,000 people voted in the contest. Mr. Gillespie, who drew scorn from Mr. Stewart for failing to embrace Please turn to A6
Triumph and tragedy
Events of last 8 days have vastly different endings for 4 Richmond teens Scholars first African-American males to graduate at the top of JM class in 25 years By Holly Rodriguez
Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press
John Marshall High School valedictorian Tyreil Mayo, right, and salutatorian Gregory Jones, show their many medals and honor cords before their graduation Wednesday at the Altria Theater.
Tyreil Mayo and Gregory Jones both share a drive to succeed — a trait commonly found in top-performing students. But the 18-year-old John Marshall High School students, who marched across the stage Wednesday at the Altria Theater and received their diplomas, also share a passion for helping others and a strong commitment to their community. The powerful combination of dedication and academics helped propel the pair to their place in John Marshall history.
Tyreil, the school’s 2017 valedictorian, and Gregory, this year’s salutatorian, are the first AfricanAmerican males to graduate in the top two spots at John Marshall in more than 25 years. “I’m really proud — not just of me, but of (Gregory) also,” Tyreil said in a phone interview with the Free Press. Both received high praise and accolades from their teachers, coaches, guidance counselor and fellow students, some of whom they have tutored during the past Please turn to A4
Lessons of love from dad By Leah Hobbs
A father often hopes that his son will one day follow in his footsteps. And a son often dreams to fill his father’s shoes. Clarence Oliver Sr. and his son, Clarence Oliver Jr., who everyone calls “Ollie,” have accomplished just that. Mr. Oliver is the owner of Supreme Hairstyling Lounge on 1st Street in Jackson Ward. Ollie works with him as a barber in the family business. Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press Mr. Oliver said that his son earned his college Clarence Oliver Jr. works side by side with his dad, Clarence Please turn to A4
Oliver Sr., at Supreme Hairstyling Lounge in Jackson Ward. The shop has been at its 1st Street location since 1976.
Ketron R. Wells
Christian K. Singleton
Gunfire claims lives of 2 in South Side By Holly Rodriguez
Ketron R. Wells was a playful 16-year-old who loved to play basketball and video games, according to his brother, Kevon Harvey. Christian K. Singleton was a 15-year-old fan of television’s British celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay and wanted to be a professional chef when he grew up. Ketron’s life and Christian’s dreams were cut short last week when they where shot and killed on Richmond’s South Side. Mr. Harvey, who said the family was split up following their mother’s death four year ago, said he last saw his brother about two weeks ago, but they spoke nearly every day. When they last talked, Ketron said he was doing well, Mr. Harvey said. “Ketron was good. He was a student at Armstrong High School.” While Samantha Singleton, Christian’s aunt, said he was home schooled, officials said he was a student at Richmond Alternative School, which is part of the city’s public school system and provides educational and behavioral support to students who are at risk of dropping out, being expelled or failing. Ms. Singleton said she last spoke with Christian the day he was killed. Please turn to A4