Charlottesville City Council (1928–present)
- Main article: Charlottesville City Council (History); See also: Charlottesville City Commission (1922–1928)
From 1922 to 1928 the "Modified Commission Form" of city municipal government consisting of three council members. In 1928 an amendment to the city charger was granted. The city council created under that charter amendment consists of five members.[1] There were five open seats for City Council in 1928;
Since 1928, the City of Charlottesville has been governed by a five member City Council elected at-large to designated seats on a non-partisan basis. The Council Members are elected for four-year terms. The Council members seats designated A, B and C are elected in one year, the Council members in the seats designated D and E are elected two years later. Subsequently, there is a year without a council election. The City Council appoints the City Manager.
On June 12, 1928, (the second Tuesday of June), voters in the City of Charlottesville went to the polls to elect the entire five member City Council. Under the 1928 charter amendment, the new council would consist of five members, rather than a three; the council would continue to appoint the City Manager and one of their own to act as the mayor. Number of councilors per number of constituents has ranged from in 1928 to in 2020.
There were five new seats on the Charlottesville City Council in 1928 election. As outlined by the 1922 charter, the three elected councilmen receiving the highest number of votes held office for four years (Seats A, B, and C); the two elected councilmen receiving the next highest number of votes, held office for two years (Seats C and E).
After the 1930 election, the term of office for each member changed from a two-year term to a four-year term - seats designated A, B and C are elected in one year; seats designated D and E are elected two years later; subsequently, there is a year without a council election. Council members are elected at large under a first-past-the-post voting system in which the top vote-getters are seated.
From 1928 to 1970, municipal elections were held on the second Tuesday in June of even-numbered years; Democratic primaries were held the first Tuesday in April preceding the June election. The 1928 charter called for the the organizational meeting to be held on the 1st day of September, after the last election.
From 1972 until 2006, municipal elections were held in May of even-numbered years - terms started July 1st and ended June 30th.
Since 2007, regular elections have been held on the first Tuesday, after the first Monday, in November of odd-numbered years. (coinciding with the federal elections). If Primaries are held, they are in June of the same year.
Notes:
- † Councilor Fred T. Twyman died in office on September 15, 1938.
- Francis Bradley Peyton Jr. was appointed to the vacant seat on the council to succeed the late Frederick W. Twyman who died on September 15, 1938. At the regular meeting on the council, held on October 3, 1938, Peyton was chosen to succeed Twyman.
- Charles P. Nash Jr stepped down from council in 1943 to enter military service in WW2.
- Fred L. Watson, who had dropped off the council for several years after his second term ended in 1932, returned in 1943 to fill out the unexpired term of Charles P. Nash, who had resigned to accept duty in the Marine Corps. Watson was re-elected in 1944. Fred's brother, Robert A. Watson, was elected to the city council from the Second Ward on June 13, 1916 and held office until September 14, 1916 - when a the city's form of government changed to a two chamber city council.
- William S. Hildreth resigned in 1946. Former councilor Charles P. Nash Jr, upon his return from military service, was reappointed to the Council in 1946 to fill out Hildreth's unexpired term.
- James Barr, whose term expired August 31, 1952, resigned from city council in June of 1952. Former councilor Sol B. Weinberg filled the two month vacancy.
- Robert S. Johnson (R), whose council term expired on August 31, 1970, resigned on May 29, 1967. At the next regular council meeting, held on June 19, 1967, the democratic controlled council elected Bill Rinehart (D) as councilor to complete the balance of Johnson's un-expired term. The next day, June 20th, Rinehart took the oath of office in the Clerk’s Office. Dutch Vogt (R) was elected by the council to serve as vice-mayor, a position previously held by Johnson.
- Sena Magill resigned from council, effective January 11, 2023. The seat remains vacant until the four remaining members appoint a new member to fill the un-expired term ending December 31, 2023. According to Virginia state law, if they cannot agree, judges of the city circuit court make the appointment.[2]
- Leah Puryear appointed to the Charlottesville City Council on February 21, 2023 to fill the vacant seat left by the resignation of Sena Magill. Puryear held the office until it expires on December 31, 2023.
- Sam Sanders became the permanent city manager on August 1, 2023. [3]
References
- ↑ Web. McCue Bill Would Alter Election of Councilmen, Don Devore, Daily Progress Digitized Microfilm, Lindsay family, January 23, 1960, retrieved February 22, 2022. Print. January 23, 1960 page 9.
- ↑ Web. Charlottesville City Councilor Magill resigns, remaining four members will accept applications to appoint her replacement, Charlottesville Tomorrow, JANUARY 4, 2023, Updated JANUARY 9, 2023, retrieved January 15, 2023.
- ↑ Web. Charlottesville looks to Sam Sanders for stability as new city manager, Emily Horn, News Article, Cavalier Daily, Auguat 1, 2023, retrieved August 2, 2023.