After Nikuyah Walker became the first independent candidate elected to the Charlottesville City Council since 1948, the council voted, 4-1, Tuesday to make her the first African-American female mayor of the city.
Democratic Councilor Heather Hill, who nominated party colleague Kathy Galvin for mayor, was elected vice mayor following a tense two-hour discussion that saw councilors openly share grievances with each other.
In Charlottesville, the mayor’s primary responsibility is presiding over council meetings, but councilors and others said it’s important to have someone who can represent the city and build consensus among the councilors.
Walker said she pushed for her colleagues to have an open discussion about who should be mayor, breaking from the usual practice of councilors picking a new mayor and vice mayor immediately following each two-year term.
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“In cities and counties in Virginia, one of the reasons the decision comes worked out ... is because it’s awkward to talk critically about your potential colleagues going forward for a two-year or four-year term,” former Mayor Mike Signer said during the discussion Tuesday. “You don’t want to have this casting shade with people you’re going to have to work with in difficult times.”
Galvin was the only councilor to vote against Walker’s nomination. Galvin said she felt she was ready for the position after having the opportunity to pursue and enact legislative policies during her six years on council.
The discussion led to a revelation that Walker had declined to meet with Signer and Galvin prior to the start of the year. The reluctance to meet with them sooner led to questions from Signer about whether Walker could work collaboratively with her colleagues.
Walker said she had expressed her intent to not talk about council business before Jan. 1, adding that Galvin had emailed her Monday and that she had responded to her.
Walker also said she dealt with a learning curve running for office, and anticipated some challenges if she were to enter the role, but embraced it nonetheless.
“This is a new experience, but I will figure it out and learn it,” she said.
Toward the end of the discussion, in reference to Galvin's nomination as mayor, Signer expressed some concern he had about her relationship with city staff. He said there had been “friction” and instances where staff reportedly said they felt overburdened by questions and requests from the council.
“If I have a question, I cannot in good conscience not ask it,” Galvin said. “… I will never stop asking questions — it’s fundamental to the role of a councilor to make sure they are doing their diligence.”
Galvin added: “In many ways, I think colleagues might have been relying on me in many instances, especially in regard to rezonings and planning issues, because I do so much work.”
Councilor Wes Bellamy, the former vice mayor, and Walker voted against Hill after she was nominated for vice mayor.
Galvin suggested that electing a female African-American as mayor and a white woman as vice mayor would be “extremely revolutionary” and demonstrate that the city can work across “racial lines.” Walker disagreed with Galvin’s comments, saying that it appeared to suggest two African-Americans could not effectively represent the entire community.
“That shows the problem we have,” Walker said.
Bellamy promoted re-electing him as vice mayor and Walker as mayor.
“I think it’s important for us to send a clear message that there are no ceilings and that we can do anything,” he said. “Anyone in this city can do anything they want to do. If we’re a city that truly talks about change and wants to turn the page, then I don’t know what better message to send than electing Ms. Walker and myself.”
Before voting for vice mayor, Signer alleged that Bellamy misled him recently when Bellamy voted against a performance agreement with hotel developer John Dewberry.
“It became a public and embarrassing thing for staff that worked on it,” Signer said.
Bellamy denied signaling a clear intent to vote for the agreement, which would have provided the developer $1 million in tax rebates in the decade after the hotel opens.
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