Williamson opines on Richmond politics (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
Thad Williamson, associate professor of leadership studies and philosophy, politics, economics and law, writes on how Varina is ushering in a new era in county politics. Williamson's research focuses on urban politics and sprawl and community economic development.
"Fifty years ago this December, residents of Henrico County and Richmond considered a referendum on whether to merge the two localities. The proposal, driven primarily by white political and business leaders within the city, was motivated by the city’s need for more land for industrial expansion — and hence a healthier tax base — and to prevent Richmond from becoming a majority black city surrounded by white suburbs.
The merger referendum failed. In Henrico, 61 percent voted against the proposal. Richmond leaders then (unwisely) turned down an opportunity to annex 16 square miles in Henrico on grounds that the deal was too expensive and didn’t include enough vacant land. For the rest of the 1960s, city leaders largely turned their attention westward and focused on annexing land in Chesterfield County."