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.”
They just don’t get it… Both Dr. Avula and Mr. Stoney would be wise to choose their words more carefully. Although they may not like Donald Trump or disagree with his policies, the people have spoken and given him a mandate to lead the government. Trump not only accomplished an Electoral College landslide but also received the dominant popular vote in this election, unlike both Avula and especially Stoney. Avula’s words: “many of us are concerned, justifiably, about what that means for our city moving forward” are offensive to those who support Trump and his policies and are in the… Read more »
While Trump certainly won nationally, he only got approximately 20% of the vote in Richmond. Therefore, I think it’s fair to say that a lot of Richmonders are concerned about his election.
And look where Richmond is…. perhaps they should give change a try?
The mayor-elect was speaking to the citizens of Richmond, of whom 81% voted for Harris/Walz. To say that “many” of his constituents are “concerned” was justified.
While your observation is correct, Richmond is not an island and depends on the vast resources of the state and federal government to survive. Richmond City is a failed experiment caused mainly by poor leadership through the decades. Many Richmonders hope Avula will break the trend. To disparage the popularly elected president before both of their terms begin is not a good start. If one were to poll Richmonders, I suspect more than 70% ( as cited in national polls regarded the US) of the citizens would concede that Richmond is on the wrong track. When an adversarial position is… Read more »
Richmond technically IS an island one just not surrounded by water bc it is an independent city. White flight (housing, retail centers and job centers) to the county is why “Richmond City is a failed experiment”.
Are you trying to say that a Trump led government would cut off their resources for simply disagreeing with him? No wonder they are concerned!
And he would because he held up funds to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.
Yeah, the lesson in democracy is that less than 16% of Richmond voted for Trump.
Democracy, none the less. It’s a hard fact.
Who cares? What does that have to do with management of the city? Why bring it up? Focus on what you can control and leave the politics behind. He’s mayor-elect now, not a partisan primary candidate. And remember, he’ll need to forge relationships with the Governor and members of the General Assembly for Richmond to achieve its goals.
Given the residents of Richmond voted Dem:Rep at a ratio of 5:1, they know who they are talking to.
A lowering tide lowers all ships
Oh, I get it…so now the majority in the country is wrong?
The constant divisive rhetoric and pandering to certain constituencies will continue to hold this city back if the mayor doesn’t focus on real issues that effect, guess what, everyone. Focus on the city and not on national politics, Mr. Mayor-Elect.
What about the multitude of marginalized groups that the president elect’s campaign routinely denigrated and outright insulted this past year? How do you think Haitians feel about this? Dr. Avula is offering his support and kindness, and I applaud him for it.
You can revel in victory all you want but the rest of us will support our neighbors and treat each other with respect. It’s a shame that most of the country doesn’t feel the same way.
Dr. Avula would be better served and earn the respect of all Richmond citizens to reach out to President Trump and his administration on ways they can work together to solve the pressing problems that have plagued Richmond for decades. Beginning a new administration in an adversarial position is unwise, at best.
You know he worked in the Youngkin administration right? I believe he is very familiar with working together with those that may not share the same ideals as him. Something those they said they are concerned about have not shown. He has talked the talk and walked the walk unlike the president elect.
lol, all I heard 24/7 from Mayor Elect is a “ Richmond that works for everyone “!!! Great non starter!! But I would not expect any different in all honesty. This will be another all talk but little real progress administration as they both run on emotion not business plans. The City is one giant cluster to deal with, worst I’ve seen anywhere in Virginia in 40 years.
I’m really looking forward to saying “bye-bye Stoney.”
Civility appears lost on these folks. For the last 4 years the DOJ has been weaponized in a totally unprecedented fashion to disparage and discredit political opponents. Ending that is frankly the best part of the Trump election. I hope he doesn’t do the same and make it tit for tat. I’m optimistic that he won’t as he refused to go after Hillary Clinton in 2016 saying “that she had suffered enough”. Time will tell.
Maybe he should have prosecuted Hillary Clinton (as she justifiably deserved) and all of the following lawfare may never have taken place. Trump stated that he will not be looking for retribution in his new term. Not sure I agree with that, as the left views this as an open invitation to continue their bad behavior. He should make an example of just one of them.