Interestingly, the major planks of her election platform were youth employment and anti-crime policies.
During the campaign, McLaughlin promoted her youth corps idea as a long-term program to reduce chronic violence in the city. The corps would offer at-risk youth part-time union jobs that would also have an education component. She also promoted green building techniques and alternative sources of energy.
For 25 years, Richmond's image has been tarnished by chronic violence: There were 42 homicides in the city last year, two more than the year before and seven more than 2004, when Richmond was named the most violent city in the state.
Local politicians and community leaders say her triumph in November's election and her continued success depend on issues like crime, jobs and schools.
"We have mothers who have lost their babies to gun violence on the streets of this city," said the Rev. Andre Shumake, head of the Richmond Improvement Association. "If it takes a Green Party candidate to come here and make it happen, so be it. It doesn't matter if you're black, green, white, yellow or polka-dot."
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