Charlottesville City Council (History)

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Charlottesville City Council (History)

The Charlottesville City Council is the legislative branch that governs the City of Charlottesville.

Current members

The Charlottesville City Council consists of five members elected at-large, who serve four-year staggered terms. After the last election, the City Council appoints a Mayor and a Vice-Mayor from its own membership to serve a two-year term.

The councilors are elected by winner-take-all “at-large” city-wide voting, where, instead of using ward districts, all councilors 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:

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)

Main article: Charlottesville Town Trustees

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 & Council)

Main article: Charlottesville Town Council (1852-1888)

In 1852, the municipal authorities of the town of Charlottesville consisted of a Mayor and the 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."

At the close of the Civil War, town and university officials surrendered to Union generals Philip H. Sheridan and George Custer on March 3, 1865. Union forces initially occupied Charlottesville for three days. Following Lee’s surrender a month later, the town came under the jurisdiction of the Army of the James, and the new occupation force consisted of a regiment of Pennsylvania cavalry.

After the end of the Civil War, Virginia came briefly under military rule during Reconstruction, with the district commanded by John M. Schofield. Pursuant to federal Reconstruction legislation, Schofield called for a new constitutional convention to meet in Richmond from December 1867 to April 1868. Virginia's new Constitution was ratified by a popular vote and went into effect in 1870. Significant provisions included expanding the suffrage to all male citizens over the age of 21, which included freedmen.

In 1871, under Charlottesville's new charter, approved by the General Assembly on 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)

Main article: Charlottesville City Council (1888-1900)

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 Ward
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 W. 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 John 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 & Council)

Main article: Charlottesville City Council (1900-1916)

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 City Council Business Manager
President Vice President Ward
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 Judge R. T. W. Duke 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 (Mayor & Bicameral Council)

Main article: Charlottesville City Council (1916-1922)

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 (Upper House) Common Council (Lower House) 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 (Commission)

Main article: Charlottesville City 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 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 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.

Session Election Year Council Members City Manager
President (Mayor) Vice President (Vice Mayor) Seat A Seat B Seat C Seat D Seat E
(1928-1930) 1928 1928 Jury Y. Brown Fred L. Watson Fred L. Watson Jury Y. Brown E. A. Joachim John R. Morris Fred W. Twyman [‡] H. A. Yancey
1929 Seth Burnley
(1930-1932) 1930 1930 W. Dan Haden
1931
(1932-1934) 1932 1932 Fred W. Twyman W. Dan Haden Shelton S. Fife George T. Huff Sam Jessup
1933
(1934-1936) 1934 1934 W. Dan Haden Sam Jessup
1935
(1936-1938) 1936 1936 George T. Huff J. Emmett Gleason
1937
(1938-1940) 1938 1938 George T. Huff J. Emmett Gleason
1939 F. Bradley Peyton Jr [a]
(1940-1942) 1940 1940 W. Dan Haden Charles P. Nash Jr [b]
1941
(1942-1944) 1942 1942 J. Emmett Gleason Charles P. Nash Jr Roscoe S. Adams Sam A. Morris
1943 Roscoe S. Adams Fred L. Watson [c]
(1944-1946) 1944 1944 Roscoe S. Adams Sam A. Morris W. S. Hildreth [d]
1945 Charles P. Nash [e]
(1946-1948) 1946 1946 Gus K. Tebell Gus K. Tebell
1947
(1948-1950) 1948 1948 Gus K. Tebell Strother F. Hamm Strother F. Hamm Henry A. Haden James Barr [f]
1949 James E. Bowen
(1950-1952) 1950 1950 Strother F. Hamm William R. Hill William R. Hill [h]
1951 Sol B. Weinberg [g]
(1952-1954) 1952 1952 William R. Hill Sol B. Weinberg R. M. Davis S. Dexter Forbes
1953
(1954-1956) 1954 1954 Sol B. Weinberg R. M. Davis Thomas J. Michie [j]
1955
(1956-1958) 1956 1956 R. M. Davis Thomas J. Michie A. Clayton Coleman Louis L. Scribner [i]
1957
(1958-1960) 1958 1958 Thomas J. Michie Louis L. Scribner
1959
(1960-1962) 1960 1960 Louis L. Scribner Bernard J. Haggerty Bernard J. Haggerty Lindsey B. Mount Robert E. Lee
1961
(1962-1964) 1962 1962 Bernard J. Haggerty Lindsey B. Mount J. Robert Ponton [k]
1963
(1964-1966) 1964 1964 Lindsey B. Mount J. Robert Ponton Burkett A. Reynolds
1965
(1966-1968) 1966 1966 Burkett A. Reynolds Robert S. Johnson Robert S. Johnson [l] "Dutch" Vogt
1967 "Dutch" Vogt Bill Rinehart [m] [*]
(1968-1970) 1968 1968 "Dutch" Vogt Bill Rinehart Joseph W. Wright Jr. Kenneth E. Davis Mitch Van Yahres
1969
(1970-1972) 1970 1970 Mitchell Van Yahres Francis H. Fife Francis H. Fife [**] Charles Barbour
1971
(1972-1974) 1972 1972 Francis H. Fife Charles Barbour George Gilliam Jill Rinehart [*]
1973
(1974-1976) 1974 1974 Charles Barbour Mitch Van Yahres
1975
(1976-1978) 1976 1976 Nancy K. O'Brien Francis H. Fife Laurence Brunton Ed Gatewood Nancy K. O'Brien [**]
1977
(1978-1980) 1978 1978 Laurence Brunton Ed Gatewood Frank Buck Thomas E. Albro
1979
(1980-1982) 1980 1980 Frank Buck Elizabeth Gleason Elizabeth Gleason John Conover E. G. Hall
1981
(1982-1984) 1982 1982 John Conover Mary Alice Gunter
1983
(1984-1986) 1984 1984 Elizabeth Gleason Lindsay Barnes
1985
(1986-1988) 1986 1986 E. G. Hall Darden Towe
1987
(1988-1990) 1988 1988 "Bitsy" Waters Alvin Edwards "Bitsy" Waters Alvin Edwards Tom Vandever
1989
(1990-1992) 1990 1990 Alvin Edwards Tom Vandever Kay Slaughter David Toscano
1991
(1992-1994) 1992 1992 Tom Vandever Kay Slaughter Virginia Daugherty
1993
(1994-1996) 1994 1994 David Toscano Gary O'Connell
1995
(1996-1998) 1996 1996 Kay Slaughter Virginia Daugherty Maurice Cox Meredith Richards
1997
(1998-2000) 1998 1998 Virginia Daugherty Meredith Richards Blake Caravati
1999
(2000-2002) 2000 2000 Blake Caravati Maurice Cox Kevin Lynch
2001
(2002-2003) 2002 2002 Maurice Cox Meredith Richards Rob Schilling
2003
(2004-2006) 2004 2004 David Brown Kevin Lynch Kendra Hamilton David Brown
2005
(2006-2007) 2006 2006 Julian Taliaferro Dave Norris Julian Taliaferro
2007
(2008-2009) 2007 2008 Dave Norris Kendra Hamilton Satyendra Huja Holly Edwards
2009
(2010-2011) 2009 2010 Holly Edwards Kristin Szakos Maurice Jones
2011
(2012-2013) 2011 2012 Satyendra Huja Kristin Szakos Kathy Galvin “Dede” Smith
2013
(2014-2015) 2013 2014 “Dede” Smith Bob Fenwick
2015
(2016-2017) 2015 2016 Mike Signer Wes Bellamy Wes Bellamy Mike Signer
2017
(2018-2019) 2017 2018 Nikuyah Walker Heather Hill Nikuyah Walker Heather Hill Mike Murphy
2019 Tarron Richardson
(2020-2021) 2019 2020 Sena Magill Sena Magill Lloyd Snook Michael Payne John Blair
2021 Chip Boyles
(2022-2023) 2021 2022 Lloyd Snook Juandiego Wade Juandiego Wade Brian Pinkston Michael C. Rogers
2023
(2024-2025) 2023 2024
2025
Session Election Year President (Mayor) Vice President (Vice Mayor) A B C D E City Manager
Council Members