Newly elected Richmond City Councilmembers Jamelia Brown and Susan Wilson, as well as re-elected Councilmember Claudia Jimenez, will be sworn into office during a ceremony in Richmond City Council Chambers on Tuesday, Jan. 14.
The event will take place at 5 p.m. in the Chambers located at 440 Civic Center Plaza.
Brown will assume the seat from outgoing Councilmember Melvin Willis in District 1, while Wilson will assume the seat from outgoing Councilmember Gayle McLaughlin.
The ceremony will include an invocation by Pastor Eric Morris of Pilgram Rest Baptist Church, recognitions and best wishes for departing councilmembers, and comments from the departing, newly elected and reelected officials. City Clerk Pamela Christian will administer the oath of office and presentation of election.
The first meeting of the Board of Trustees of the City of Richmond took place on Aug. 14, 1905, in the main office of the Critchett Building at 224 Richmond Ave., according to city documents. The City Charter, as proposed by the Trustees, was ratified following a special election on Feb. 9, 1909. As a result, the Board of Trustees became the Council of the City of Richmond. The first Councilmembers were elected following an election on May 10, 1909.
The City Charter originally stated the Council “shall be composed of nine members,” but that was changed in 2008 to seven members following the Election of Nov. 2, 2004.
