Mayor-elect focused on new relationships
A few weeks before he enters Richmond City Hall, Mayor-elect Dwight Clinton Jones is focusing on three appointments, planning an inaugural celebration and underscoring his desire to work with -- not against -- the City Council.
In a recent interview, Jones gave no hints at a possible agenda and said he's begun meeting with all nine council members to set a tone of respect and cooperation.
"I'm going to continue to stretch my hand out to them and allow them to know that I would love to have a different kind of relationship with them," Jones said, referring to the council's clashes with outgoing Mayor L. Douglas Wilder over money and power.
"The only way that's going to work is for them to meet me halfway, however," he added.
Council members said they're encouraged by the tone but eager to hear specifics of what Jones might propose.
"I felt a whole different attitude and approach that was warm and welcoming," City Councilman Bruce W. Tyler said. "I sense his administration is going to be open."
Appointments
Jones said he's concentrating on appointing a chief administrative officer, a director of finance and a chief of staff.
With a search for a chief administrator just under way, Jones said it's likely an interim appointment may be needed. He said he's also stressing that the city government is stable.
"The city's gotten a lot of press in the recent past that might cause people to be gun-shy, so . . . we're trying to put it out that we're looking for somebody to serve long term," he said.
State of the city
Jones said he's gotten no initial feedback from 10 committees helping his transition and drawn no conclusions on city finances from his briefings with the Wilder administration and council members.
"We're still on the outside," he said. "I'm hearing what the council's people are saying. I'm hearing what the mayor's people are saying. Unfortunately, at this point, there are just two different stories."
The city is about halfway through its fiscal year operating under a budget in which expenses exceed revenues by about $6 million because of a dispute between Wilder and the council over whose spending plan should be in effect. On top of that, additional reductions in state funding are expected.
Some council members have hoped that Jones would take office and embrace their budget, but Jones said amendments proposed by Wilder to resolve the dispute are a logical starting point.
"It would seem to me that we don't need to go back and reinvent the wheel," he said, reiterating support for a cost-of-living raise for retired city employees.
Full-time mayor
Jones said he's committed to working full time as mayor. "It means whatever it takes. It means being present and available and visible."
He said his role as pastor of First Baptist Church of South Richmond would change, but he provided no details, saying he didn't want the church to become a "political football."
Jones said the large church and its community development corporation also would continue redevelopment work along Hull Street. Jones said he wants to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest in dealings between the church and city but said he's not concerned there will be any problems.
"I'm not going to cut anybody out or show any favoritism, because we can't do it all ourselves anyway," he said. "So anyone who wants to help the work that we've begun, I certainly want to be an advocate for them."
Inaugural festivities
Jones said he plans a private swearing-in Jan. 1 or 2 with a public ceremony and celebration Jan. 10 that would include an ecumenical worship service, festivities at the Greater Richmond Convention Center and a gala ball.
Jones said he expects private donations to cover some inaugural costs.
State law requires governors but not mayors to disclose the contributors to inaugural funds. Jones said he doesn't know whether he'll report his contributors voluntarily.
The festivities also will include a food and baby-formula drive for the Central Virginia Foodbank. Jones said he was moved by the recent story of a 5-month-old boy in Florida who nearly died of malnourishment after his mother watered down his formula to get more feedings from a single can.
"I just kind of want to set the tone for the administration as one that cares and is going to be on the ground and in the community," Jones said.
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