RICHMOND, Va. – Gov. Ralph Northam announced Saturday that he does not plan to resign.
Northam elaborated and said he is not either man pictured in a racist photo published in his 1984 medical school yearbook. He also said Friday night was the first time he had ever seen a copy of this yearbook as he did not buy one when he graduated.
"I am not the person in that uniform and I am not that person to the right," Northam said during the news conference.
A classmate from Eastern Virginia Medical School who Northam said he talked with earlier told him that there were multiple pictures in that 1984 yearbook that were placed on the wrong page.
Northam did admit to using blackface while performing in a dance competition in 1984 in San Antonio, Texas. He said he was performing as Michael Jackson and put a little bit of shoe polish on his face.
When asked if he would have resigned if it was him in the photo, Northam did not directly answer the question.
Roanoke city Mayor Sherman Lea, a Democrat, said the photo in question is “hurtful.”
“I was extremely disappointed in that. Did it trouble me? Yes it did because I've worked with Ralph,” Lea said.
He said he got to know Northam when the two campaigned together. He said he forgives Northam and he’s not calling for the governor to step down, but he believes it will now be more challenging for Northam to accomplishing his goals.
“I know that it's going to be difficult to serve as governor with this hanging over him,” he said.
10 News spoke to George Allen Saturday, a former Virginia Governor and former U.S. Senator. The Republican was in Roanoke to talk about the importance of ending gerrymandering.
Allen also dealt with a controversy over racial insensitivity, but he said the circumstances in the 2006 incident that involved him were different.
“I am hopeful that Governor Northam will do the right thing for the people of the commonwealth of Virginia,” Allen said.
Allen did not answer a question from 10 News on whether he thinks Northam should resign.
Virginia Del. Chris Head, a Republican who represents the Roanoke Valley, was also at the Roanoke event and spoke with 10 News.
“When I first saw the photo the only thing that I could say was just, 'oh wow,'” Head said. “It is shocking, disappointing.”
Head said it should be up to Northam on whether he resigns, but either way, the controversy will affect the atmosphere in Richmond.
“It really is going to change the timbre of the last three weeks of session, irrespective of what happens,” Head said.
Head said he’s still upset about Northam's comments from earlier in the week regarding late-term abortions.
Lawmakers in Virginia’s General Assembly get back to work Monday in Richmond.