Candidate for
Member, City Council; City of Richmond

Tony Thurmond is a Bay area native who was born in Monterey and lived in San Jose until the age of six. After Tony's mother, a former teacher and single mother lost her battle to Cancer in 1974, Tony moved to Philadelphia, PA where he was adopted and raised by his cousin Diana Krajewski, and Tony's step father, Donald Krajewski. Diana and Donald Krajewski (both campus police officers for more than 20 years) taught their son Tony the value of hard work, responsibility, and making sacrifices to get things done. Tony is also the proud brother to Terence in San Jose, Jerome in Encinitas CA, Rena in New York City, and Ayana in Philadelphia.

Tony was first turned on to politics during his tenure as Student Body President for the 30,000 students at Temple University (Philadelphia, PA) where he received a BA in Psychology. Tony did his graduate work at Bryn Maw College (Bryn Mawr, PA) where he received dual Masters Degrees in Law and Social Policy and Social Work. After a successful career in the Philadelphia area that spanned the disciplines of social work, education, and non profit management, Tony returned to the Bay area and has lived there with his wife Kristin since 1998. Kristin and Tony made Richmond their home in 2000 and are raising their toddler daughter Maya there. While back in the Bay area Tony has continued working for non-profit causes, particularly education, mentoring, and other programs to support youth. When he isn't working or involved in political causes, Tony enjoys watching and playing sports and spending time with Kristin and Maya and friends in the scenic Bay area. Tony is also a trained actor who has appeared in a national cable commercial and in numerous training videos for Bay area corporations and non-profit causes. Tony also loves music and has sung on stage with his Jazz musician brother Jerome Dawson (airjazzproductions.com), a pop-rock band, and the Glide gospel ensemble in San Francisco.