Why Did Obama Speak in Stratford Hills?

Style Weekly has some insight on why our local neighborhood was chosen.

The aging city suburb isn’t exactly Short Pump or Woodlake, the populous middle-class suburban havens in Henrico and Chesterfield counties, respectively. The average household income in the area that includes the Stratford Hills neighborhood is $55,422, according to 2000 U.S. Census tallies. And the per capita income of the Stratford Hills resident is $33,726.

Area income is low enough not to induce upper middle-class conservatism, and it’s likely the White House knew this when selecting the Southampton Recreation Center to address a select group of roughly 15 Stratford Hills residents.

Stratford Hills, however, is located in a district represented by one of Obama’s most vocal critics, House Minority Whip Eric Cantor.

David Hathcock, public liaison for City Council President Kathy Graziano, says that the city’s 4th District, which includes Stratford Hills, isn’t surprised at the White House’s choice. “This is a good place to reach the middle,” Hathcock says. “There isn’t a person out here who doesn’t have some unease about the national economy. But the people in the middle here aren’t looking for scapegoats.”