Jones expected to name another deputy CAO for Richmond
Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones is expected to announce today the appointment of Peter Chapman as deputy chief administrative officer for economic and community development.
Chapman is executive director of the Denver office of Seedco Financial, a nonprofit national community development financial institution. He previously served as an economic development adviser to Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper.
In Richmond, Chapman's responsibilities will include overseeing the departments of community and economic development, as well as the office of minority business enterprise. He'll start work July 13 at an annual salary of $160,000.
This week, Jones announced Marcus D. Jones as deputy chief administrative officer for finance and administration. He also proposed Byron C. Marshall as chief administrative officer. The City Council is scheduled to vote July 1 on Marshall's confirmation. The deputy CAO positions do not require council approval.
-- Will Jones
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Reader Reactions
Metoo: Nobody has produced any evidence that Chris Blescher, the acting CAO, is imcompetent or ineffective. On the other hand, there is plenty of published reports of racial divisiveness, ineffectiveness, and controversial activity on the part of Byron C. Marshall. Look in the Archives for the Austin Chronicle, for some examples of reports of his poor performance in Austin. Why would Richmond taxpayers wish to employ someone whom Austin taxpayers are hoping will leave as soon as possible?
Why would you hire IN house? Clearly those working for the city are already ineffective and we all know the ones who would really do a good job don’t ever get the promotion. Probably better that they go outside.. maybe get someone who can shake things up a bit.
I have another suggestion: Why don’t you complainers go out and run/apply for city office? Maybe you can become mayor and magically fix everything with your internet whit.
Why do our governments, local and state, insist on bringing in ‘transplants’ to run our cities, counties, and state? We have enough talent if people would see the forest through the trees. We also have plenty of people who DO care about our region and would be happy to make a difference. The next elections, I’m heavily considering home-grown as one of my major qualifications for any elected officials.
“or resign.“
Is there an echo in here?
Anon E. Mouse8: I don’t see that your comments contribute anything to the discussion. The fact is, as you yourself admit, Beschler is a fine administrator. What the circumstances were with internal candidates when Chris Beschler was appointed I do not know, except there was no indication that he had performed poorly, been controversial, or engaged in racial divisiveness elsewhere.
Therefore, there is no reason to go outside: especially when there is plenty of credible evidence available to objective observers that cites Marshall’s racial divisiveness, poor performance, and constant involvement in controversy in Austin and elsewhere.
Whether Beschler is awarded the job as he deserves, there can be absolutely no excuse for ignoring credible adverse information about Byron C. Marhall.
dogtown you have been on this rant for several days now. The reality is, Beschler has been in Richmond three years, he came from Connecticut. He was appointed by Wilder. I think Beschler is a fine administrator. Your argument makes no sense. If you follow your argument logically Beschler shouldn’t have been appointed in the first place. He isn’t a long term city employee that knew Richmond. He learned Richmond after he came here in 2006.
Dogtown - I agree. Let’s start a recall petition.
I had hoped it would not occur, but Dwight Jones, like Doug Wilder, is unnecessarily increasing the cost of city government and “building his personal empire” with a steady stream of new administrative positions filled by high-cost unknown entities from other communities. Just this week property owners received notices of assessment for “storm water” utility fees implemented solely to produce revenue for storm water services that should be included in services paid for from existing taxes. Rather Jones, with Council’s acquiescence, continues to unnecessarily and imprudently increase city administrative overhead while adding to the burden of taxpayers who already pay tax rates and other fees far in excess of their neighbors in surrounding jurisdictions.
Richmond Taxpayers should research the recent article about Bryon Marshall that appeared in the Austin Chronicle and other credible news reports citing the ineffectiveness, racial divisiveness, and poor performance of Byron Marshall in his current and previous posts. On July 1, citizens should turn out “en masse” to urge Council to reject Marshall’s appointment. Rather than an outsider, Jones should appoint Chris Beschler who is well known and has, in fact, been performing the duties of the CAO timely and well for months.
Further, when the city lacks resources to attend timely to ADA deficiencies in public school buildings, EPA sanctions related to our sewers, road repairs, replace or improve the City jail, and upgrade critical infrastructure, it is absolute malfeasance for the Mayor to continue to create and staff unnecessary new staff positions.
If Jones has inadequate time to devote to his elected post as the Chief Executive of the City, he should either resign as Mayor or vacate his position as Pastor of his Church. In any case, Richmond does not need additional administrative overhead - only full dedication to his tasks from the Mayor and effective performance by those department heads already in place.
Do the job in the best interests of Richmond Taxpayers, Mr. Mayor - or resign.
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