Richmond 3rd District School Board Race - 2024

Current district representative Kenya Gibson is running for City Council during this election cycle, meaning there will be a new representative. There are three candidates on the ballot:

Ali Faruk

Faruk works at the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services and has served as a policy director for Families Forward Virginia, a nonprofit working to prevent child abuse. He has two sons in RPS. He is a graduate of Leadership Metro Richmond and the Virginia Executive Institute, and has served on eight local boards.

Campaign Website

Charlene Riley

Riley is a graduate of RPS and has children in the district. Riley is 34 years old, and has cited the need for younger representation on the school board during her campaign.

Campaign Facebook Site

Kevin Starlings

Starlings is chair of the Richmond School Board’s Health Advisory Board and is a graduate of John Marshall High. He is the executive director of the Starlings Foundation, a nonprofit focused on education reform, community development and supporting individuals experiencing homelessness. He previously ran for this seat, losing to Gibson.

Campaign Website


From The Richmonder:

Oct. 17: 3rd District school board: Differences on Kamras, candidates’ backgrounds define race


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All candidates participated in the final installment of the RVA Dirt candidate email series.

All candidates participated in the League of Women Voters questionnaire.