Thomas Richards (mayor) Development of the Midtown project continued. It was announced on March, 3rd 2014 that Richards was appointed to and will be chairman of the Rochester City School District volunteer board overseeing a $1.3 billion city school modernization program. Richards is a graduate of Bucknell University and Cornell University Law School, and served in the U.S. Navy. Richards is a trustee of the University of Rochester and of George Eastman House. Thomas Richards (mayor) Thomas S. Richards (born July 8, 1943) is an American lawyer, business executive and politician who served as the 68th Mayor of Rochester, New York. From 1972
Vincent Thomas (mayor) elected Thomas as the new mayor in 1976 by a 4-3 margin on the 27th ballot. He was re-elected as mayor by the city council for three additional term, each unopposed from 1976 to 1984. Thomas supported the construction of the Waterside development, as well as the downtown revitalization efforts. Mayor Vincent Thomas held a meeting with the Rev. Jesse Jackson in 1983 to discuss Norfolk's controversial school busing plan. The busing program was discontinued in 1986. Thomas actively supported the candidacy's of Norfolk's second African-American city council member. He declined to seek re-election in 1984. Shortly after his decision