Mayor-elect Danny Avula, Stoney pledge ‘streamlined transition process’

Mayor-elect Danny Avula alongside Mayor Levar Stoney at Wednesday’s news conference. (Jonathan Spiers photos)

Hours after clinching his bid to become Richmond’s next mayor, Mayor-elect Danny Avula joined outgoing Mayor Levar Stoney in a news conference Wednesday in which they promised a smooth administrative transition.

Avula, a pediatrician and former Richmond City Health District director, won a five-way race to succeed Stoney, who is term-limited. Avula bested fellow candidates Andreas Addison, Michelle Mosby, Maurice Neblett and Harrison Roday, according to results that remained unofficial Wednesday.

Addressing reporters and supporters in the lobby at City Hall, Stoney said he has pledged to Avula “to do everything that I can to ensure that he and his administration hit the ground running on January 1.”

“We want to ensure that it’s a streamlined transition process, something that we’ve never seen before here in the city of Richmond, that ensures that he and his team are prepared to lead this city into its next chapter,” Stoney said.

Avula said that process is already underway and started with a phone call with Stoney that morning.

“I’m very grateful to Mayor Stoney for his partnership and for his friendship in working together over the years for the good of this city and what that will mean for this transition,” said Avula, who previously shared podiums with Stoney during the pandemic when Avula, then as health district director, reported the latest COVID-19 statistics and safeguard recommendations.

The mayor-elect said he is putting together a transition team that would be announced soon. He added that he is thankful for the team that Stoney has built at City Hall, though he confirmed his intention to conduct a national search for a new chief administrative officer.

Avula has previously said he would not retain current CAO Lincoln Saunders, who was Stoney’s chief of staff before being named interim CAO when the position became vacant during the pandemic. Asked if he still intends to replace the top administrator of Stoney’s team, Avula said he wants to make sure that Richmond has the best talent available.

“There’s been a lot of conversation about the CAO role, and I think we’ve got to do our best job both to see what kind of talent we can attract to the city and who’s going to be the best fit for the next chapter of Richmond’s life,” Avula said.

Stoney said he’s pledged to Avula to help ensure “a streamlined transition process.”

Avula received 46% of votes cast in the mayoral race, compared to 25% for Mosby, 13% for Roday, 12% for Addison and 3% for Neblett, according to the unofficial results that need to be canvassed before becoming official.

Other results showed Andrew (“Gumby”) Breton winning over Paul Goldman and Zac Walker for the First District City Council seat that Addison has held for eight years. Addison’s run for mayor relinquished that seat.

Incumbent councilmembers Nicole Jones, Cynthia Newbille, Ellen Robertson and Reva Trammell came out on top of their competitive races, while Ann Frances-Lambert of the Third District appeared to have lost to School Board member Kenya Gibson in a three-way race.

Sarah Abubaker, also unopposed, was elected to replace Council President Kristen Nye, who did not seek re-election. Incumbents Katherine Jordan and Stephanie Lynch were re-elected unopposed.

In Wednesday’s news conference, Avula congratulated the new council and School Board members. He also acknowledged, as did Stoney, uncertainties at the federal level following Donald Trump’s win in the presidential race.

“As the mayor mentioned, the results of the national election have set a certain tone for us, and I think many of us are concerned, justifiably, about what that means for our city moving forward,” Avula said.

“I think for many members of our community, there are real dangers that are posed by that: members of our LGBTQ+ community, our black and brown and immigrant families, for working families, there’s a lot of concerns about what the shifts at the national level mean for us,” he said.

“But I think, as Mayor Stoney has so steadfastly been committed to during his time in office, what I will absolutely be committed to is protecting the people of Richmond and fighting for justice and equity in everything that we do as a city moving forward.”

Concluding his remarks, Avula added: “It’s going to take all of us, but together we will build a Richmond where everybody’s rights are protected, where everyone has the opportunity to thrive and where nobody gets left behind.”