Council members take their oaths

The singing that broke out at Richmond City Hall yesterday might as well have come from the City Council and Mayor Dwight C. Jones.

The council's nine members were sworn in to begin their four-year terms and got started by unanimously electing 4th District Councilwoman Kathy C. Graziano as president and 6th District Councilwoman Ellen F. Robertson as vice president.

Graziano and Jones then promised a new era of cooperation after four years marked by clashes between the council and Mayor L. Douglas Wilder under the city's new, elected-mayor form of government.

"Today, we embark on the opportunity to get that new system of government right," Graziano said. "With a new mayor, a new council, new school superintendent and a new School Board, we have a chance for renewed commitment."

Jones, who sat with the council members at the dais, declared yesterday "a day of new beginning" for collaborative leadership. He said that he or senior administration officials would attend all council meetings to ensure good communications.

"I offer to you the hand of cooperation and the hand of collaboration, and I offer to you an open door," Jones said. "If you receive that offer . . . I believe that we can do great things together. That's what the city is expecting."

The only damper on the proceedings came in warnings by officials that the sputtering economy will mean tough times for city finances.

Robertson said she doesn't believe the council and mayor are simply enjoying a honeymoon period.

"I think it's about a marriage," she said before a reception that featured a choir from Southside Baptist Christian School. "Marriages have disagreements and conflicts, but they're in for the long haul."

The new council has eight returning members plus newcomer Charles R. Samuels, of the 2nd District. He replaces William J. Pantele, who served as council president and gave up his district seat in an unsuccessful bid for mayor.

Councilman E. Martin Jewell, who was Wilder's strongest ally on council, declared himself optimistic.

"It's promising that my colleagues have taken me out of the wilderness," said Jewell, referring to his new position as chairman of the council's government operations committee.

"I think we are poised to take Richmond to another level, given we've had this four-year training period," he added. "We get a chance to reset our governance as we reset our economy."

Yesterday marked the start of Delores L. McQuinn's 11th year on council, but she won't be around to finish it. She's the lone candidate in Tuesday's special election for the 70th District seat in the Virginia House of Delegates, which Jones vacated to became mayor.

Once McQuinn resigns her council seat, the eight remaining members will appoint someone to fill the seat until a special election in November.

Graziano said she expects the council will accept résumés later this month so that a new representative can be seated in February.

McQuinn's likely departure means that Robertson and Councilwoman Reva M. Trammell will be the only council members who served before the city switched to an elected-mayor form of government in 2005.

"I think things are going to be great," Trammell said.
Contact Will Jones at (804) 649-6911 or .