Heat from storm rises against mayor

Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones' administration said Wednesday that the mayor has been in the city every day since Aug. 24 — before, during and after Hurricane Irene blew through, knocking down trees and causing widespread power outages.

The mayor's press secretary, Tammy D. Hawley, released a partial timeline of Jones' recent whereabouts after some members of the City Council on Tuesday questioned whether he was present as the massive storm barreled up the East Coast and crossed Virginia on Aug. 27. Chief Administrative Officer Byron C. Marshall had responded that the mayor was here and in regular communication with administration officials.

Hawley would not address the mayor's whereabouts on Aug. 23 and before, saying his personal travels were off-limits. Jones, who does not release a schedule of his activities, owns an oceanfront condominium in Palm Beach County, Fla.

Official assurances that Jones was present for Irene did little to quiet critics, including members of the City Council who have complained about the city's preparedness and response to Irene.

Councilman E. Martin Jewell said he does not believe Jones was in Richmond during the storm and said the mayor had not made a public appearance for at least six days before Aug. 28, when he and Gov. Bob McDonnell toured storm damage in the West End.

Jewell said Jones also wasn't seen following the Aug. 23 earthquake that rattled central Virginia, closed City Hall and forced an evacuation of the Fay Towers senior high-rise apartment building.

"If he was here, you would have seen his face," Jewell said. "He lives for the camera, and why wouldn't he show up?"

Hawley said Jones returned to Richmond from out of town immediately after the earthquake.

"It is unconscionable that Mr. Jewell would seek to politicize this disaster that has taken place when the mayor and the administration (have) sought only to focus on the needs of the people," she said.

Jewell said Jones is entitled to time away from City Hall, but he questioned why Jones waited until 10:20 p.m. on the night of the storm to declare a state of emergency. McDonnell made a similar declaration for Virginia two days earlier.

Hawley said the city takes a conservative approach to declaring an emergency because its regulations call for classified workers to be paid double time in those situations. She said initial forecasts indicated that Irene would cause less damage than it did and officials had worried that the city might not meet damage thresholds to qualify for federal aid.

The mayor's lack of visibility before and during Irene underscores his hands-off leadership style, said Paul Goldman, a political consultant who ran for mayor in 2008 before dropping out to endorse Jones. He said mayors and other leaders who prefer to delegate authority need to be careful in times of crisis.

"He wasn't on the front lines in this fight, in comparison to McDonnell and other mayors," Goldman said of Jones. "It's an iconic moment for his administration."

The storm knocked down about 700 trees and electrical wires, and it disrupted electrical service to about two-thirds of the city. It also caused $2.5 million in damage to public property and $12.2 million in damage to private property, according to city estimates.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported Wednesday that Jones had bought his Florida condominium in 2010 and had not disclosed the purchase he filed his sworn 2011 Statement of Economic Interests.

Commonwealth's Attorney Michael N. Herring said his office plans no investigation because the mayor has indicated that he plans to file a corrected form.

"The remedy, assuming the report of the omission is true … is to file an amended report (to) disclose the existence of the property," Herring said.

Jones has acknowledged that he neglected to report the property purchase and described the error as an oversight.

A local official who knowingly files an inaccurate form may be charged with a Class 3 misdemeanor, which is punishable by a fine of up to $500, according to the Secretary of the Commonwealth's Office. The official also may be dismissed from office or employment.