Richmond's chief administrative officer resigns

By: | Richmond Times Dispatch
Published: July 30, 2008

BY DAVID RESS and WILL JONES

Sheila Hill-Christian resigned unexpectedly this afternoon as Richmond’s chief administrative officer and in an e-mailed statement indicating that her ability to be a leader has been compromised.

The resignation is effective Friday, according to a statement from Mayor L. Douglas Wilder's office.

She was hired in November to the top position in Wilder’s administration and won the backing of the council. With her broad background of public service — she had held top positions in the city and state governments, and was the head of the Virginia Lottery — Hill-Christian was regarded as a seasoned professional who would be able to help smooth the difficult relations between the mayor and council.

In her e-mailed statement, Hill-Christian discussed the definition of a leader and said: "In every position I have accepted I have given my all to live up to that definition. When my ability to do so is compromised, I believe it is in my personal best interest, and the interest of taxpayers, to move on."

She added: "I am going to take the opportunity in the next chapter of my life to give back more to the community."

Hill-Christian was not immediately available for comment after the e-mail was sent.

Wilder confirmed Hill-Christian’s resignation later in the afternoon.

"We well understand that, at the time she was hired in November 2007, I had not determined whether to seek re-election, and I greatly appreciate having her as part of our team. She did a fine job in a very challenging situation, and we wish her well with her future endeavors," Wilder said in a written statement .

Wilder said Hill-Christian’s duties will be carried out by deputy chief administrative officers, adding that he has no plans to select a new chief in the remaining months of his term, which lasts through the end of the year.

Hill-Christian was Richmond’s second chief administrative officer and was paid an annual salary of $170,000.

Before heading the state lottery, Hill-Christian was executive director of the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority.

Hill-Christian began her career working at a state juvenile correctional center and was named director of Virginia juvenile justice agency in the last year of Gov. George Allen’s administration.

She led the city’s juvenile justice department, was director of the city parks and recreation department and served as chief of staff and deputy city manager for former City Manager Calvin Jamison. She also served as chief operating officer at the GRTC Transit System.

Contact David Ress at dress@timesdispatch.com

Contact Will Jones at wjones@timesdispatch.com