> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.richmonder.org/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Nov. 2 Newsletter: Know before you vote - URL: https://www.richmonder.org/nov-2-newsletter-know-before-you-vote/ - Published: 2026-11-02T11:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-11-02T11:00:04.000Z - Description: Richmonders head to the polls tomorrow. Read up on key races, including the decision Richmond and Chesterfield will make on whether to raise the sales tax to fund school construction and renovation. - Author: Michael Phillips - Tags: Newsletter **Weather:** Cloudy with a high of 64. **On this date** in 1903, the St. Luke Penny Savings Bank, run by Maggie Walker, opened for business on St. James Street. [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/06/99067822-fdfd-42b1-ab19-555c33eefb89/content/images/2026/10/26CHF_94_The-Richmonder-Newsletter_900x150_Banner.jpg)](https://campaign.chrichmond.org/?utm%5Fmedium=paidemail&utm%5Fsource=therichmonder&utm%5Fcampaign=chf-bfk-2026&utm%5Fcontent=emailsponsorship&utm%5Fterm=chf-november26) **Today's newsletter sponsored by Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU.** Recognized by [**U.S. News & World Report**](https://www.chrichmond.org/blog/details/childrens-hospital-of-richmond-at-vcu-consistently-ranked-among-best-childrens-hospitals-by-us-news-world-report?utm%5Fmedium=paidemail&utm%5Fsource=therichmonder&utm%5Fcampaign=chf-bfk-2026&utm%5Fcontent=emailsponsorship&utm%5Fterm=chf-november26) as one of the best pediatric facilities in the country, our efforts are made possible through the support of generous partners like you. --- [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/06/99067822-fdfd-42b1-ab19-555c33eefb89/content/images/2026/10/Richmonder_Education_Final_102924-2.jpg)](https://www.richmonder.org/should-voters-raise-the-sales-tax-to-fund-school-maintenance-heres-what-you-need-to-know/) ### Should voters raise the sales tax to fund school maintenance? Here's what you need to know. Voters in Richmond City and Chesterfield County will decide Tuesday whether to increase the sales tax by 1% to create a fund used exclusively to build new public schools and renovate existing ones. 🤑 Chesterfield expects to raise about $65 million a year, while Richmond's haul would be closer to $50 million annually. Richmond and Chesterfield have both indicated that if the referendum passes, they will issue bonds to borrow against future earnings. That means they would have a lump-sum amount of money to spend now, which would be paid down through tax revenues over the next 20 years. [**Read what advocates and opponents have to say here.**](https://www.richmonder.org/should-voters-raise-the-sales-tax-to-fund-school-maintenance-heres-what-you-need-to-know/) [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/06/99067822-fdfd-42b1-ab19-555c33eefb89/content/images/2026/10/IMG_0886.jpg)](https://www.richmonder.org/election-day-is-tuesday-heres-what-the-richmond-area-is-voting-on/) ### Election Day is Tuesday. Here’s what the Richmond area is voting on. Congressional control is the big thing up for grabs in Tuesday’s midterm elections, but there are other issues and contests on the ballot in the Richmond area that have less to do with national politics. [**Read more on how to vote here.**](https://www.richmonder.org/election-day-is-tuesday-heres-what-the-richmond-area-is-voting-on/) - In Richmond, former Virginia education secretary Anne Holton is trying to hold on to the 6th District seat she was appointed to earlier this year. She’s facing competition from longtime educator Jackie McDonough. (Read profiles of [**Holton**](https://www.richmonder.org/anne-holton-will-run-for-her-richmond-school-board-seat-in-novembers-special-election/) and [**McDonough**](https://www.richmonder.org/longtime-science-educator-jackie-mcdonnough-enters-race-for-6th-district-school-board-seat/).) - In Chesterfield, Christina Brady and Elizabeth Schultz are competing for the Clover Hill District seat on the school board. ([**Read about that race**](https://www.richmonder.org/chesterfields-lone-school-board-race-pits-a-political-veteran-against-a-newcomer/)) Also in Chesterfield, Shannon Taylor (D) and incumbent Rob Wittman (R) have spent roughly $23.5 million on advertising — and it shows. [**As the candidates run a national race, can they keep Chesterfield's concerns front of mind?**](https://www.richmonder.org/in-a-23-5-million-house-race-are-the-candidates-keeping-a-pulse-on-chesterfield/) [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/06/99067822-fdfd-42b1-ab19-555c33eefb89/content/images/2026/10/Pumpkin_patch_in_NS_2_t620_fbf2daa044e08a86b24c9c38cd7501865a0e2373--1-.jpg)](https://www.richmonder.org/richmond-wants-your-halloween-pumpkins-heres-why/) ### Richmond wants your Halloween pumpkins. Here’s why. This year, in an effort to keep spooky gourds out of the region’s landfills, Richmond is urging residents to make a different choice: Drop off your pumpkin at one of two locations in the city, and it will be either composted or sent to a pig farm. From Nov. 1 through Nov. 30, [city residents can drop off their pumpkins](https://rva.gov/press-releases-and-announcements-public-works/news/richmond-pumpkin-round-program-aims-keep) at designated pumpkin collection points at the recycling centers at 1710 Robin Hood Rd. and 7400 Forest Hill Ave. [**Read more here.**](https://www.richmonder.org/richmond-wants-your-halloween-pumpkins-heres-why/) [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/06/99067822-fdfd-42b1-ab19-555c33eefb89/content/images/2026/08/sports-section-divider-1.jpg)](https://www.richmonder.org/tag/sports/) - [**Band aid: Hermitage hits the right notes in victory over Douglas Freeman**](https://www.richmonder.org/band-aid-hermitage-hits-the-right-notes-in-victory-over-freeman/) - “The band is one of our No. 1 supporters. I want to thank those guys as much as possible, and one way we do it is celebrating with them afterwards.” - [**Beasts of the East End: Varina's Robinson shines in clash of area's top teams**](https://www.richmonder.org/beasts-of-the-east-end-varinas-robinson-shines-in-1-2-showdown/) - The 5-foot-8 junior, the son of former Varina star and ex-NFL standout Michael Robinson, changed the course of Friday’s game. --- ### Today's sponsor: [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/06/99067822-fdfd-42b1-ab19-555c33eefb89/content/images/2026/10/26CHF_94_The-Richmonder-Newsletter_900x540_Desktop.jpg)](https://campaign.chrichmond.org/?utm%5Fmedium=paidemail&utm%5Fsource=therichmonder&utm%5Fcampaign=chf-bfk-2026&utm%5Fcontent=emailsponsorship&utm%5Fterm=chf-november26) Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU is on an ever-growing quest to meet the needs of Virginia’s children and their families. From building out shell spaces and recruiting top pediatric specialists, to advancing research and expanding programs, our growth ensures we will always be there to help the next generation. But we can't do it alone. Rally with us to support unstoppable care for kids. [**Learn more at BuiltForKids.org.**](https://campaign.chrichmond.org/?utm%5Fmedium=paidemail&utm%5Fsource=therichmonder&utm%5Fcampaign=chf-bfk-2026&utm%5Fcontent=emailsponsorship&utm%5Fterm=chf-november26) --- ### Last week's most read - [**‘The boys will be boys’: Former students at Trinity Episcopal detail what they describe as a culture of sexual misconduct dating back years**](https://www.richmonder.org/the-boys-will-be-boys-former-students-at-trinity-episcopal-detail-what-they-describe-as-a-culture-of-sexual-misconduct-dating-back-years/) - [**‘And the Golden Hammer goes to…’: Richmond's best development, rehab and design projects in 2026**](https://www.richmonder.org/and-the-golden-hammer-goes-to-richmonds-best-development-rehab-and-design-projects-in-2026/) - [**A Chesterfield employee who helped bring Google to the county now works for the tech giant**](https://www.richmonder.org/a-chesterfield-employee-who-helped-bring-google-to-the-county-now-works-for-the-tech-giant/) - [**‘Compromise’ Mayo Bridge proposal calls for mountable barriers between bikes and cars**](https://www.richmonder.org/compromise-mayo-bridge-proposal-calls-for-mountable-barriers-between-bikes-and-cars/) - [**Prince Harry's 'MasterClass' will benefit Richmond charity**](https://www.richmonder.org/prince-harrys-masterclass-will-benefit-richmond-charity/) --- ### In other news - [**VCU men's basketball faces unusual unknown in Monday's season opener**](https://richmond.com/sports/college/basketball/vcu/men/article%5F1bb6023d-aeb6-421e-bf97-e26e10b8a161.html) (Times-Dispatch) - The opponent, Little Rock, has 14 newcomers on their 15-man roster. - [**Halloween night stabbing injures GRTC bus driver**](https://www.12onyourside.com/2026/11/01/halloween-night-stabbing-injures-grtc-bus-driver/) (12 On Your Side) - The victim was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. - [**Henrico sewer breaks send 1.4M gallons of sewage into creek**](https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/10/30/henrico-sewage-spill-gillies-creek-james-river-2026) (Axios Richmond) - The county is urging people to avoid recreational water activities in the affected area. --- [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/06/99067822-fdfd-42b1-ab19-555c33eefb89/content/images/2026/10/section-public-notices.jpg)](https://www.richmonder.org/legal-notice-information/) - [**City of Richmond Circuit Court Employment Advertisement**](https://www.richmonder.org/november-1-city-of-richmond-employment-advertisement/) --- ### The editor's desk ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/06/99067822-fdfd-42b1-ab19-555c33eefb89/content/images/2026/10/IMG_1323.jpg) The inaugural Richmonder Minigolf Invitational was a smash hit, with our staff getting a little downtime before this week's election frenzy. Congrats to winners Keiana and Lindsay, who finished with two holes-in-one on their way to victory. *Michael Phillips, founder* *mphillips@richmonder.org* --- Sent this by a friend? [**Sign up for our free thrice-weekly newsletter here.**](https://www.richmonder.org/sign-up-for-the-richmonders-free-newsletter/) Do you enjoy The Richmonder? [**Join us as a donor**](https://www.richmonder.org/contribute-to-the-richmonder/) and we'll send you a hat or mug!