Distinguished Service with Humility

Name recognition? Picture in the newspaper? Interview on the evening news? Not about that either.

 

Ego? No way. Charles Samuels checked his at the door.

 

So what motivated the 1994 Collegiate School graduate during his two-term tenure as a member of Richmond’s City Council?

 

The answer is easy: Doing good…and doing it well.

 

And when his term ended January 1 and he returned to private life as a husband, father, attorney, and nice guy next door, Samuels could say, humbly yet proudly, that his word was true, he kept his promises, and he served his constituents to the best of his ability.

 

“Charles was definitely an asset on Council,” said Michael Herring, Richmond’s commonwealth attorney. “He was exceptional in many respects, not the least of which was his legal training. He is obviously very, very smart. I found him to be committed to the overall improvement of the City, even when it put him at odds with discrete segments of the community. I never heard him raise his voice or demean people. He was willing to listen and exchange perspectives on issues. He always conducted himself in a collegial way.”

 

From 2009 through 2016, Samuels represented the Second District, which includes the Fan, parts of North Side, Scott’s Addition, Carver, Jackson Ward, Gilpin Court, and Downtown to Second Street. He served as Council president from 2013 - 2014. He did not seek re-election.

 

“Nine years ago which I was asked to run, I had no intention of doing this, let alone for eight years,” he said. “Collegiate and my folks had instilled in me that you really have to give back to your community to make it stronger and better.”

 

At 40, Samuels looks quite youthful. Imagine how he looked at 32.

 

“I was kind of amazed,” he continued, “that at the first several Council meetings, nobody would pay any attention to me. They were nice to me, but there wasn’t a whole lot of camaraderie, I felt.”

 

At his final meeting, he received the Thomas Jefferson Award, the highest honor the city bestows. He was an apt recipient.

 

During his stint, his work on Council became a 40-hour-per-week part-time job. He’s most proud of several initiatives that he fostered or endorsed. He encouraged job creation by advocating for elimination of the licensing tax for new and returning businesses for the first two years. He sponsored the creation of the Downtown Arts District. He collaborated with former Collegiate art teacher Alice Massie, the driving force behind the restoration of Monroe Park. He supported efforts to increase funding for the public safety department and street, sidewalk, and alley repair. He worked to address problems in juvenile detention homes and in the department of social services.

 

There were others, of course, some of the head-scratching nature.

 

“For some unknown reason,” he said, “I had the ability to pick out issues that involved animals.

 

“We had an issue where some outdated ordinances required that the chief of police collect any cows, pigs, or goats that were caught roaming the streets and auction them off on the courthouse steps. We had to fix that.

 

“We had a situation where the commonwealth’s attorney asked for an ordinance to prevent unnecessary gunfire in the city. In passing it, we learned that the General Assembly refuses to allow you to limit deer hunting in the city of Richmond. So we had to put in a special exception for discharging firearms if you’re deer hunting.”

 

Then there was the night Council had on its agenda discussion of its $1.4-billion budget as well as an ordinance that would allow citizens to raise chickens in their back yards.

 

“More people, by 2-to-1 or 3-to-1, came out to talk about the need for chickens rather than how we were spending taxpayer money,” Samuels said. “Those stories always crack me up.”

 

Which speaks to Samuels’ temperament, his affable demeanor, his sometimes self-deprecating manner, and his take-the-high-road approach that makes one think, “Is this guy really a politician?”

 

Well, actually, no. Selfless public servant would be a more fitting description.

 

“Councilman Samuels was very thorough when legislation came through,” said City Clerk Jean V. Capel. “He asked questions. He definitely has a heart for serving constituents. He got along with everybody. He was very nice, very easily approachable. He didn’t act on impulse. He was very thoughtful in providing responses to situations. His character and personality are so great. He was a wonderful Councilman.”

 

Politics can bring out the best and the worst in people. Folks have agendas. They have egos. Maintaining decorum, a sense of humor, and an even keel can diffuse many a situation.

 

“One time,” Samuels said, “I had to tell an unruly crowd at City Council that if they didn’t behave, we’d have to turn this building around and go back home. That seemed to calm everybody down and get a chuckle, and we were actually able to get on with the business of council. Council is a business meeting. It’s not supposed to be a circus or show. People can disagree, argue, or advocate for a different position, but it should be a civil process. That’s important to me.”

 

As an attorney, Samuels focuses on criminal and disability law and serves as guardian ad litem for both children and incapacitated adults. His practice is now his professional focus.

 

“I had a blast,” he said of his years on Council. “Part of me thinks I should have done it for the rest of my life. At some point, you become so much a part of the institution and not enough about the representation. You have to make sure you leave at a time when you’re still representing the people. People used to ask if this was a start on the political staircase. The answer has always been the same. I’m doing this because I believe I can help people.”

         -- Weldon Bradshaw