Richmond City Council Vice President Cynthia Newbille and President Chris Hilbert flipped roles at the council’s first meeting of 2019. Newbille, who has represented Richmond’s East End since 2009, was elected president unanimously by her fellow council members Monday night.
Though the position is mostly ceremonial, the president does serve as the liaison between council and the Mayor’s office and is in charge of committee appointments.
Newbille said she wants to use her new role to focus on collaborating better with other agencies, community non-profits and the surrounding counties. “We can work together to really improve outcomes for our citizens, not some of them, all of them - all 24,000 of our wonderful children and almost a quarter of a million adults,” Newbille said. “I’m looking forward to the work. It will be work, but it will be worthy work on behalf of the citizens of the city.”
Newbille will serve as president through the end of this council’s term in 2020.
Mayor Levar Stoney congratulated Newbille in a statement, saying he looks forward to working with her on creating “an inclusive and competitive city.” “Dr. Newbille’s years of experience, steady hand and dedicated, compassionate public service will provide the thoughtful, progressive leadership necessary to meet the challenges facing our city and keep it moving forward in an efficient and positive direction,” Stoney said.
Hilbert will now take over Newbille’s former position as council Vice President. He announced his plans to step down last November citing personal reasons.
Hilbert said Monday that he wanted to work more on the major issues coming before the council like the Coliseum redevelopment project, rather than the administrative work of council president.
