Charlottesville City Council (History): Difference between revisions
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===1852-1888 (Mayor-Board of Aldermen, at-large)=== | ===1852-1888 (Mayor-Board of Aldermen, at-large)=== | ||
In 1852, the municipal authorities of the town of Charlottesville consisted of a mayor and | In 1852, the municipal authorities of the town of Charlottesville consisted of a mayor and a Board of Aldermen, who were elected annually on the fourth Saturday in February "by the free white male inhabitants of twenty-one years of age and upwards...four persons, being freeholders, as aldermen, and one other person, being a free holder, as mayor, to serve as the council for one year, and until their successors are elected and qualified." | ||
Under a new charter, approved March 28, 1871, the municipal authorities of "The Town of Charlottesville" consisted of a mayor and six alderman, who were elected annually by "qualified voters" on the fourth Saturday of June. | Under a new charter, approved March 28, 1871, the municipal authorities of "The Town of Charlottesville" consisted of a mayor and six alderman, who were elected annually by "qualified voters" on the fourth Saturday of June. | ||
===1888-1900 (Mayor-Common Council, wards)=== | ===1888-1900 (Mayor-Common Council, wards)=== |
Revision as of 20:58, 4 October 2022
Charlottesville City Council (History)
The Charlottesville City Council is the legislative branch that governs the City of Charlottesville.
Current members
The council is composed of 5 members elected by winner-take-all “at-large” voting, where, instead of using ward districts, all council must run “at large. At-Large block voting - also known as the "plurality-at-large voting method" - has been in place since the 1922 election. "The president of the council and the vice-president are chosen by the council at the first regular meeting of the term. As of 2020, council members receive an annual salary of $18,000 for councilors and $20,000 for the mayor - not including fringe benefits, city-issued credit cards and discretionary spending funds. Charlottesville has one of the highest average salaries for council members in Virginia.
Regular council meetings are held in the City Hall on the first and third Monday of every month (except holidays), beginning at 4:00 p.m. (unless decided by special resolution) or otherwise stated in public notice. The mayor presides over meetings, may call special meetings, makes some appointments to advisory boards and serves as the ceremonial head of government. The vice mayor substitutes whenever the mayor is not available.
Officers:
- President of the Council (called Mayor): Lloyd Snook.
- Vice President of the Council (called Vice Mayor): Juandiego Wade.
Sena Magill (D), member since January 2020; Seat: A, next election: November 7, 2023
Lloyd Snook (D), member since January 2020; Seat: B, next election: November 7, 2023
Michael Payne (D), member since January 2020; Seat: C, next election: November 7, 2023
Juandiego Wade (D), member since January 2022; Seat: D, next election: November 4, 2025
Brian Pinkston (D), member since January 2022; Seat: E, next election: November 4, 2025
The Code of Virginia states that governing bodies shall be composed of between three and eleven members. Charlottesville, as with most governing bodies in Virginia, has four-year terms of office. In Virginia, city and town councils are presided over by mayors who may be directly elected or, as with Charlottesville, chosen by the council. Counties are presided over by a chair of the board of supervisors.
Past councils
Albemarle County was organized on December 31, 1744. In 1762, Charlottesville was founded by an Act of Assembly as the Albemarle County seat.
1801-1852 (Trustees, at-large/assigned)
Charlottesville incorporated as a town on July 19, 1801. The Virginia General Assembly authorized a government of five trustees "who were to maintain streets, settle boundary disputes, authorize a market, quiet public nuisances, appoint a town clerk, and collect taxes to no more than $200."
1852-1888 (Mayor-Board of Aldermen, at-large)
In 1852, the municipal authorities of the town of Charlottesville consisted of a mayor and a Board of Aldermen, who were elected annually on the fourth Saturday in February "by the free white male inhabitants of twenty-one years of age and upwards...four persons, being freeholders, as aldermen, and one other person, being a free holder, as mayor, to serve as the council for one year, and until their successors are elected and qualified."
Under a new charter, approved March 28, 1871, the municipal authorities of "The Town of Charlottesville" consisted of a mayor and six alderman, who were elected annually by "qualified voters" on the fourth Saturday of June.
1888-1900 (Mayor-Common Council, wards)
Charlottesville became a city in 1888. Charlottesville's municipal court records begin in 1888. Under the first charter of the city, granted by the Legislature, the city was divided into four wards, with three councilmen elected from each one by plurality vote. The first election under that system was held in 1888, and the last in 1900. Before the 1888 Annexation, Charlottesville's population in 1880 was about 2,676. According to the 1890 Census, the city's population was 5,591 - a 108.93% increase during the decade.
Mayor | Year | President | Vice President | Wards (Districts) | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
First | Second | Third | Fourth | ||||||||||||
R. F. Harris | 1888 | C. D. Fishbourne | Office did not exist | Alonzo Wingfield | L. T. Hanckel | C. D. Fishbourne | Thomas M. Bailey | George Perkings | H. T. Nelson | James Perley | C. D. Carter | G. W. Spooner | John W. Coflin | B. F. Grove | J. M. Murphy |
Samuel Woods | 1889 | ||||||||||||||
1890 | L. T. Hanckel | A. D. Cox | J. E. Gleason | ||||||||||||
1891 | W. C. N. Randolph | F. M. Wells | Wm. J. Tyson | J. L. Cochran, Jr | A. N. Peyton | ||||||||||
L. T. Hanckel | 1892 | H. T. Nelson | C. D. Fishburne | J. S. McCue | A. D. Payne | ||||||||||
1893 | W. J. Tyson | M. Leterman | J. H. Nalls | John S Patton | |||||||||||
John S. Patton | 1894 | W. A. Melborn | |||||||||||||
1895 | B. F. Grove | ||||||||||||||
J. Samuel McCue | 1896 | W. J. Keller | A. D. Payne | F. M. Huyett | F. C. Fitzhugh | J. M. Murphy | J. S. Patton | ||||||||
1897 | Farish | ||||||||||||||
1898 | W. J. Keller | G. W. Olivier | |||||||||||||
1899 | Eldridge Turner | G. D. Payne | J. L. Walters | W. A. Melborn | J. L. Cochran, Jr | ||||||||||
1900 | J. E. Gleason |
1900-1916 (Mayor-Board of Aldermen, wards)
The second charter organized the City of Charlottesville under a mayor-council government (approved March 3, 1900). The 1900 charter and mayor-council form of government remained in place until it was superseded by the 1922 charter.
Under an ordinance passed by the council, the city's form of government changed on September 1, 1913, whereby the Mayor also became the city's Business Manager, elected as such for one year, and re-elected at the end of that time for two years. All duties of an executive or administrative character, which had previously been performed by several council committees under ordinances, which were in force before the creation of the new office, were then required to be discharged exclusively by a Municipal Business Manager, the committees acting in an advisory capacity.
The city council, elected June 13, 1916, held their last meeting on September 14, 1916.
Mayor | Year | President | Vice President | Wards (Districts) | Business Manager | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
First | Second | Third | Fourth | |||||||||||||
J. Samuel McCue | 1900 | Moses Leterman | Office did not exist | W. J. Tyson | L. W. Graves | George E. Walker | A. D. Payne | M. Leterman | Dr. H. T. Nelson | W. A. Lankford | J. F. Harlan | Henry D. Jarman | Col. Henry M. Lewis | J. M. Murphy | John S. Patton | Office did not exist |
Charles W. Allen | 1901 | W. A. Perley | ||||||||||||||
J. Samuel McCue | 1902 | G. W. Olivier | ||||||||||||||
1903 | ||||||||||||||||
George W. Olivier | 1904 | Judge R. T. W. Duke | Henry D. Jarman | R. T. W. Duke, Jr. | W. F. Long | C. S. Venable | F. W. Twyman | J. E. Harrison | Edward Lawman | A. D. Dabney | R. W. Holsinger | |||||
1905 | W. E. Fowler | J. P. Ellington | ||||||||||||||
1906 | F. W. Twyman | R. W. Holsinger | W. Rice Barksdale | W. P. Lipscomb | J. E. Early | B. W. Leterman | A. C. Brechin | A. G. Carter | ||||||||
1907 | A. Goodloe | H. R. Hawkins | James E. Gleason | H. M. Lewis | ||||||||||||
E. G. Haden | 1908 | E. A. Balz | H. W. Tribble | E. A. Balz | John S. Patton | |||||||||||
1909 | O. E. Driscoll | H. R. Hawkins | ||||||||||||||
1910 | R. W. Holsinger | J. H. Montague | C. W. Hulfish | L. T. Hanckel, Jr. | F. M. Huyett | Henry D. Jarman | J. H. Montague | |||||||||
1911 | Thos. J. Michie | |||||||||||||||
A. V. Conway | 1912 | H. D. Jarman | W. Rrice Barksdale | W. Rrice Barksdale | Thomas J. Michie | L. T. Hanckel, Jr. | A. D. Payne | F. M. Huyett | Henry D. Jarman | E. A. Joachim | J. H. Montague | James E. Gleason | J. P. Ellington | John S. Patton | M. V. Pence | |
1913 | A. V. Conway | |||||||||||||||
1914 | W. Rice Barksdale | W. Rrice Barksdale | S. A. Birch | L. T. Hanckel, Jr. | R. (Bob) C. Walker | W. E. Graves | Henry D. Jarman | E. A. Joachim | W. F. Sounder, Jr. | James E. Gleason | J. P. Ellington | John S. Patton | M. V. Pence | |||
1915 | ||||||||||||||||
1916 | J. P. Ellington | Marshall Timberlake | R. (Bob) C. Walker | W. E. Graves | W. D. Harris | John S. Patton | F. W. Twyman |
1916-1922 (Bicameral, wards/assigned)
Between 1916 and 1922, Charlottesville's legislative government consisted of a two chamber city council. Not unlike the current Virginia General Assembly, the city council was composed of a bicameral body consisting of a lower house, the Board of Aldermen, with 4 members, and an upper house, the Common Council, with 8 members. Each member was elected from one of the four wards and serving staggered two-year terms. The Board of Aldermen was presided over by a member elected president, while the Common Council was presided over by a member elected president. The Mayor of the City of Charlottesville was an elected constitutional officer, the head of the executive branch. The Mayor was popularly elected every two years by plurality-at-large voting. The mayor, when present, presided over the joint meetings of the council, and in his absence, the president of the Board of Aldermen presided. The mayor had no vote in the council, except in the case of a tie, when he gave the casting vote.
On August 1, 1916, the city's the population exceeded 10,000 with the annexation of over 2,500 acres of Albemarle county territory and suburbs surrounding the city. As a result, Charlottesville became a city of the first-class and according to the the Virginia Constitution of 1902, the city's Legislative government was required to consist of a divided government.
A special election was held on September 20, 1916 (3rd Tuesday in June) to elect members of the new city government as prescribed by general State law for a city of the first-class. The Board of Alderman held regular meetings the 2nd Monday of every month. The Common Council held regular meetings the 2nd Thursday of every month. The last regular monthly meeting of the Common Council was held on August 10, 1922.
Mayor | Year | Board of Aldermen | Common Council | City Manger | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
President | Vice President | First Ward | Second Ward | Third Ward | Fourth Ward | President | Vice President | First Ward | Second Ward | Third Ward | Fourth Ward | |||||||
E. Geury Haden | 1916 | R. C. Walker | M. Timberlake | M. Timberlake | R. C. Walker | W. D. Harris | Albert S. Bolling | W. F. Sounder, Jr. | W. M. Forrest | W. F. Long | N. T. Wingfield | W. E. Graves | W. T. Elliott | W. F. Sounder, Jr. | J. E. Gleason | Fred W. Twyman | W. M. Forrest | A. V. Conway |
1917 | H. A. Stecker | |||||||||||||||||
1918 | B. E. Wheeler | W. M. Forrest | Lemuel F. Smith | W. F. Long | L. F. Smith | F. M. Huyett | W. T. Elliott | W. N. Via | J. E. Gleason | Lacy L. Irvine | W. M. Forrest | |||||||
1919 | Fred W. Twyman | Shelton S. Fife | ||||||||||||||||
B. E. Wheeler | 1920 | G. T. Greaver | John S. Patton | L. R. Whitten | L. R. Whitten | J. P. Ellington | J. T. Greaves | Walter Washabaugh | ||||||||||
1921 | E. G. Haden | E. G. Haden | J. E. Greaver | |||||||||||||||
W. M. Forrest | 1922 | John R. Morris | F. L. Watson | Fred H. Quarles |
1922-1928 ("Modified" Commission)
Under a new charter, granted by the Legislature in 1920, the city was governed under a "Modified Commission Form" of city municipal government. The council was composed of a three members commission serving two-year terms. The council appoints the City Manager and one of their own to act as Mayor. The first election under that system was held on June 13, 1922 and the last on June 8, 1926. The first session ran from September 1, 1922 to August 31, 1924. The last session ran from September 1, 1926 to August 31, 1928 which was the last year this ward system was in use.
Under a new charter, granted by the Legislature in 1920, the city was governed under a "Modified Commission Form" of city municipal government organized in accordance with the act of March 24, 1922. The council was composed of a three members commission serving two-year terms. The executive authority, in the management of the ministerial affairs of the city, was in a city manager elected by the council. Beginning July 1, 1928, the council was increased to five members serving staggered four-year terms under an amended charter.
Session | Election | Year | Council Members | City Manager | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
President (Mayor) | Vice President (Vice Mayor) | Seat A | Seat B | Seat C | Seat D | Seat E | ||||
(1922-1924) | 1922 | 1922 | John R. Morris | E. A. Joachim | John R. Morris | E. A. Joachim | Jury Y. Brown | Office did not exist | Office did not exist | Boyd A. Bennett |
1923 | ||||||||||
(1924-1926) | 1924 | 1924 | Jury Y. Brown | John R. Morris | ||||||
1925 | H. A. Yancey | |||||||||
(1926-1928) | 1926 | 1926 | Jury Y. Brown | |||||||
1927 |
1928–present (Council-Manager)
On June 12, 1928, (the second Tuesday of June), voters in the City of Charlottesville went to the polls to elect five members to the 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 City Mayor.
There were five open 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 has been four years for each member - 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 1972 until 2006, City Council elections were held in May of even-numbered years. Since 2007, City Council elections have been held in November of odd-numbered years. If Primaries are held, they are in June of the same year.