Richmond's mayoral candidates learned an important lesson in advance of next weekend's annual back-to-school rally and parade: It pays to be in office.

Del. Dwight Clinton Jones, D-Richmond, and City Council President William J. Pantele were invited to speak during the event. Fellow candidates Paul Goldman, Robert J. Grey Jr. and Lawrence E. Williams Sr. were not.

Jones and Pantele were asked to participate because they're sitting elected officials, said City Council Vice President Delores L. McQuinn, a co-founder and organizer of the 18-year-old event.

"It's the same thing we've historically done," she said. "They're not going to be talking about running for office."

To be safe, she said, she extended invitations to the 19 candidates for the City Council, 18 for the School Board and the five for mayor.

Jones has participated in the past, said his campaign manager, Kevin O'Holleran.

"He's going to stick to the purpose of the event, which is to bring more enthusiasm to Richmond students," O'Holleran said. "The focus is students."

Pantele agreed, describing it as a kid-oriented event at which registered voters have typically been in short supply. The event includes the distribution of free school supplies, a talent show and an all-day tailgate-style party.

"It's just a way to get some school supplies to the kids," he said. "I've done this every year for a number of years, election or no election."

Williams said he received an e-mail invitation that invited him to attend the activities but not to speak to the crowd.

He can, though, participate in the parade, which runs between Church Hill and the Richmond Coliseum on Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon.

"It's standard Richmond politics, and it's why we have the system we have," he said. "It's about integrity and fairness. Because you have the right to do it doesn't mean it's in the best interest of voters."

Goldman said he had not received an invitation but, because of recent back problems, probably wouldn't participate anyway.

He did note that the parade doesn't include a school destination.

"It's not a march to a new, modernized school because they haven't done it yet," he said. "They couldn't figure out how to modernize one school in four years.

"I'm tired of these feel-good things that hide the fact that elected officials haven't done what they said they'd do."

Messages left for Grey were not immediately returned.

McQuinn said the focus would be on children, not politics.

"I just want to be extremely clear that the focus has always been on the children," she said.

The lineup for event is being finalized, said Sam Patterson, McQuinn's assistant. While a keynote speaker has not been named, he said it wouldn't be Pantele or Jones.

Mayor L. Douglas Wilder's spokesman, Linwood Norman, said he was unsure whether Wilder would attend.

McQuinn said the only time Wilder has accepted an invitation was four years ago, when he was running for office.

"We didn't think it was appropriate" to allow him to speak, she said.

McQuinn said School Board Chairman George P. Braxton II declined an invitation to participate. She said Vice Chairwoman Lisa Dawson had been asked to speak in his place.

What other role the school system will have isn't clear. Calls to its public information office were forwarded to the City Council.

Contact Zachary Reid at (804) 775-8179 or zreid@timesdispatch.com.