Monday was the last obligatory City Council meeting for Charlottesville Mayor Maurice Cox and Vice Mayor Meredith Richards. Newly-elected councilors David Brown, a University alumnus, and Kendra Hamilton, president of the Rose Hill Neighborhood Association, will take over the Council positions.
Brown and Hamilton, as well as incumbent Kevin Lynch, were elected in a stand-alone election on May 4. Council elections are staggered so that three seats are open for re-election one year and the remaining two are open for re-election two years later, according to the Charlottesville City Web site.
Although Brown and Hamilton were both present at the June 21 meeting, they will be officially sworn in on June 30 and will not serve in their official capacities until the July 1 Council meeting.
Following a long series of budget appropriations, "the councilors made a few remarks about their eight years," Clerk of the Council Jeanne Cox said. "We also presented them with a plaque."
Mayor Cox was elected mayor by Council in 2002 after a two-year term as vice mayor, and both Mayor Cox and Richards have served on the Council since 1996. Mayor Cox also works as an associate professor in the University's School of Architecture. Richards serves as chairman of the Fontaine Avenue Task Force.
Brown said that Mayor Cox "has really had a vision that has been a part of transformation of Charlottesville in the past few years."
Brown also said that Richards is a "strong advocate in a number of areas that have affected U.Va., including the living wage."
At a July 1 meeting, Council members will elect a new mayor and vice mayor to serve two-year terms.
The installation of Brown and Hamilton, both Democrats, will not affect the political makeup of the Council, currently composed of four Democrats and a single Republican, Rob Schilling, whose current term ends in 2006.
Brown said that key issues for his campaign included the achievement gap between the performance of low-income and high-income citizens as well as the high cost of area housing. Hamilton's campaign included a push to improve to the Charlottesville Transit System.
In order to lower costs the election and increase voter turnout, Council is considering a proposal to move Council elections to be in line with fall state elections.
Brown said that a majority of Council members, including himself, would accept shortening their terms by six months in order to make this change.
Read More
Political groups on Grounds mobilize for gubernatorial race
By Bertie Azqueta | 31 minutes agoPolitical groups like the U.Va. Center for Politics, HoosVote, University Democrats and College Republicans are planning events to increase voter education and turnout before voters head to the polls.
As Board prepares to meet, questions surface over if it is doing so lawfully
By Nina Broderick | 17 hours agoThe Code of Virginia says that the Board shall consist of 17 members appointed by the governor, 12 of whom are residents of Virginia and 12 of whom are University alumni.
Previewing the September meeting of the Board of Visitors
By Grace Little | YesterdayAll meetings will be held on Grounds with the exception of the Health System Board, which will meet at Boar’s Head Resort.
