Virginia's gubernatorial candidates to discuss their candidacies during conversation with University of Richmond president

The University of Richmond will host Virginia’s gubernatorial candidates for conversations about their candidacies as part of the university’s Sharp Viewpoint Speaker Series, which is committed to advancing dialogue on topics crucial to the nation and global society.

Gubernatorial Republican nominee Ed Gillespie and Democrat nominee Ralph Northam will each talk with University of Richmond President Ronald A. Crutcher. The Oct. 11 conversations will take place at 7 p.m. in the Queally Center.

Ed Gillespie is a small business owner, former top White House and Capitol Hill aide and 2017 Republican nominee for governor of Virginia. The son of an Irish immigrant, he grew up working in his parents’ grocery store. He started his career as a Senate parking lot attendant and worked his way up to become counselor to President George W. Bush. During his term as chairman of the Republican National Committee, the party won the White House and Senate for the first time in 80 years.

Ralph Northam is the current lieutenant governor of Virginia. He has served as an Army doctor and business owner. He is a pediatric neurologist, and for 18 years he has volunteered as medical director for the Edmarc Hospice for Children in Portsmouth, where he cares for terminally ill children. He chairs the Commonwealth Council on Childhood Success and the Governor’s Task Force on Improving Mental Health Services and Crisis Response.

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