Tom Butt

Architect, Recovered Politician, Historic Preservationist and Author

This web page started as a political campaign resource in the early 1990s. After 28 years on the Richmond City Council and eight years as elected mayor, I termed out in 2023, having served longer continuously than anyone in Richmond history. I have now reverted full-time to the architectural profession.

I started the blog TOM BUTT E-FORUM in 2000 to fill in the gaps and misinformation from traditional journalism. Although I have transitioned away from the predominantly community and political content , I have continued the E-FORUM, and the Archives are probably the best resource available for Richmond political history 2000 – 2023.

Latest E-FORUM Articles

Richmond Promise’s 10 Year Anniversary Celebration

July 23, 2026

Hello community partners,   Richmond Promise warmly invites the community to our 10 Year Anniversary Celebration, presented by Wells Fargo Advisors.   Richmond Promise's 10 year bash is taking place on Saturday, August 8, 2026 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at...

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Ehrlichia chaffeensis

July 18, 2026

  This little guy, a Lone Star tick (Amblyomma americanum), carrying the bacterium Ehrlichia chaffeensis, has pretty much ruined my summer so far. I was in Northwest Arkansas (Fayetteville)  in June for a family reunion, returning June 19. About a week...

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Remembering Martin Andrew Butt 1947-1969

July 15, 2026

Remembering Martin Andrew Butt 1947-1969 July 14, 2026 My younger brother by three years, Martin, joined the Marines and survived Vietnam in 1966-67 with a purple heart but suffered a fatal automobile accident less than two years after coming home. He would have...

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The MCE Smear Campaign

June 25, 2026

Below is my response to a critical Marin County Civil Grand Jury report on MCE, instigated by a series of articles in the Marin Independent Journal. I played the key role in bringing MCE to Richmond, the first expansion out of Marin County. I represented Richmond on...

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Arkansas Rattlesnake