Recently, the PW Perspective sat down with Fairfax NAACP Chairman and Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor, Sean Perryman, to hear first-hand about the change he seeks to bring Richmond if elected to our Commonwealth’s second-highest executive office.

Perryman, 34, began our discussion by reminiscing on his tenure of service as an investigator for the U.S. House Oversight Committee under the late Congressman Elijah Cummings of Maryland, a man whose dedication to public service left a deep impression on the young activist. “He taught me to always seek higher ground, to focus on the greater purpose of why we do things. He had a way of building allegiances with everyone, and he understood the power of speaking with the media to encourage passing effective policies. What made him so special was that he took a stand on issues and was beloved by everyone.”, told Perryman.

Following his warm words for the late Congressman, Perryman highlighted how his experience as a first-generation college student influenced his decision to practice law after graduating from Vanderbilt University. “It really meant a lot for me to graduate from college with a degree in law because I could then put myself in a position to serve others by giving back,” said Perryman. “I view life through an equity lens, and I believe that every human being deserves the opportunity to have the life they want, and I believe in giving people the tools they needed to succeed.”

Perryman’s philosophy would propel him to serve on the Federal Communications Commission Advisory Committee on Diversity and Digital Empowerment, and most recently, as President of the Fairfax NAACP, where he accomplished a variety of initiatives including providing forgivable loans to roughly 30 small minority-owned businesses throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Perryman went on to share his agenda, beginning with his views on Virginia’s push to legalize marijuana. “Approximately 70% of arrests in this state are due to cannabis,” said Perryman. “We need to reform what we think about criminalization, especially when it comes to marijuana, on both medical and recreational use. By doing so, we are not only lowering wrongful incarceration rates, but we can improve the economy.”

Regarding education, Perryman believes that there should be a greater push to include minority educators. “The first step would be to provide more incentive to have Black and Brown teachers. The more students have educators that look like them, the better chance they have of succeeding.”, Perryman remarked. “In addition, we need to eliminate the school to prison pipeline by improving interaction between police and youth. This need to initiate strict disciplinary measures on students must come to an end because the statistics show that it is mainly the Black and Brown students that receive the harshest penalties.”

Referencing incarceration rates, Perryman believes that Virginia must combat the various stigmas that prevent formerly incarcerated individuals from enjoying the full benefits of re-integration after they have paid their debt to society, stating, “We’ve thrown people away. We need to change the VA constitution to allow voting rights to felons once they’ve served their time.”

Relating to his time serving as Director of Diversity and Inclusion Policy and Counsel at Internet Association, Perryman shared how he will work to empower rural communities through improved broadband access, stating, “We need to invest in infrastructure. During these challenging times of the pandemic, many families in those areas are often left behind and we need to give them what they need to accomplish their tasks, whether it’s for school or work.”

Perryman also shared his belief that the recent removal of Confederate symbols across the Commonwealth is a step in the right direction, but that more needs to be done to move Virginia into the 21st century. “I’m glad that we are taking down representations of Virginia’s painful past, but it cannot stop there.” shared Perryman. “We need more telling of the truth if we’re going to have reconciliation. Our schools need to be able to teach students what really happened with slavery. Also, we need to improve the quality of life for Black and Brown students through literacy programs so they can remain on the right path.”

As our time concluded, Perryman pitched his candidacy to prospective voters, stating, “I will bring a bold, aggressive agenda to Richmond as Lieutenant Governor. I have the ability to execute policies and bring the change that Virginia needs. My years of working in advocacy have given me the ability to organize and build coalitions that are needed to get things done. Although I may not have the final authority [as Lieutenant Governor], I will still be able to lead on the issues that matter to the people of Virginia.”