 He lost his seat in 2001 during a run for mayor, but was re-elected in 2004 with support from the unions representing Richmond police officers and firefighters.He was also supported in 2004 by the Keep Richmond Safe Committee that was accused of "mudslinging" and whose campaign was developed by a former city fire captain that underwent house arrest and FBI investigations for vote buying

He was re-elected in 2006 and was chosen vice mayor by his colleagues.In 2007 he expressed support for the city's undocumented illegal residents saying the city had a responsibility to investigate the raids by immigration enforcement.