McQuinn quits Richmond council to start as delegate

Richmond City Councilwoman Delores L. McQuinn concluded her tenure in City Hall last night before she crosses East Broad Street to work in the General Assembly.

"I hope that I've been instrumental in helping to change the city of Richmond and my district," the longtime 7th District councilwoman said.

McQuinn is resigning today so she can be sworn in tomorrow to serve the 70th District in the House of Delegates. She won a special election this month to fill the seat vacated when Dwight C. Jones was elected mayor.

McQuinn's colleagues and residents praised her leadership on Richmond's slave trail and Slavery Reconciliation Statue projects, as well as its annual back-to-school rally and parade.

"I know when you go across the street [to the General Assembly], what you've done is going to pale [compared with] what you're going to do for this city," Council President Kathy C. Graziano told McQuinn.

McQuinn was appointed to the council in 1999 and re-elected five times, including in November to a four-year term. She also served six years on the city School Board.

The council plans to appoint an interim 7th District council member on Feb. 9, and that person will serve until a special election in November. The city clerk will accept résumés and applications tomorrow through Jan. 22.

Last night's meeting was light on business but heavy on ceremony.

Jones, who took office Jan. 1, joined the council to congratulate the University of Richmond for winning the 2008 NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision title. The new mayor also introduced senior members of his staff.

As expected, the council withdrew a proposal to reimburse police officer Edward Aeschlimann $1,200 for legal expenses related to a murder charge that was dismissed.

Councilman Chris A. Hilbert had proposed the payment but changed his mind last week, saying it could be precedent-setting and distracting for the council and new administration.

David M. Hicks, senior policy analyst to the mayor, was commonwealth's attorney when Aeschlimann was charged in the 2004 shooting death of Santanna Olavarria during a traffic stop. The charge later was dismissed at the request of Commonwealth's Attorney Michael N. Herring.

Councilwoman Reva M. Trammell yesterday sought a council discussion of the reimbursement but said she's not sure whether she might reintroduce the proposal.

In other business, the council voted to designate Riverside Drive from Cowardin Avenue to Huguenot Road as a scenic byway.

It delayed until Jan. 26 a vote on a proposal aimed at reducing the more than 15,000 false alarms that police officers must respond to each year. The ordinance would require residents and businesses to get a $20 alarm permit and authorize fines for excessive false alarms, beginning at $50 for a third offense in a 12-month period.

Contact Will Jones at (804) 649-6911 or .