Norfolk has chosen new city manager, sources say

NORFOLK

Mayor Paul Fraim announced today that former Assistant City Manager and Budget Director Marcus Jones will become Norfolk's new city manager.

Jones, 42, will replace Regina V.K. Williams, who is retiring after 12 years. The city held a 2 p.m. news conference at City Hall for the announcement, which comes less than three weeks after Williams announced her departure last month.

Jones left Norfolk in June 2009 for Richmond, where he is the finance and budget director. Most council members lamented his departure at the time, saying he was a rising star. They praised his ability to crunch budget numbers and deal compassionately with the public.

Councilman Paul R. Riddick openly endorsed Jones more than a week ago.

"Marcus is the right guy for the job," he said.

The council eschewed a nationwide search and zeroed in on Jones from the start. He was the only candidate interviewed, sources said.

Jones was interviewed for about 90 minutes by the council Friday at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott Hotel, sources said. Councilwoman Angelia Williams, who won a special election on Nov. 2, participated in the interview even before her first council meeting.

The council met briefly in a closed session after the Jones interview and a majority authorized Fraim to negotiate terms with Jones. Jones stayed overnight at the Marriott, presumably for negotiations, sources said.

Although it quickly became apparent Jones was the city's first choice, it wasn't known whether he would return to Norfolk.

Jones is a native of Caroline County, just north of Richmond, and has extensive ties to central Virginia, where most of his family lives. He is a graduate of James Madison University and has a master's degree in public administration from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Jones was recruited to Norfolk by Williams in 2003 after 10 years working in state government in Richmond, where he advanced to deputy secretary of finance. After a year in Norfolk, he was named budget director and was promoted to assistant city manager in 2007.

Fraim declined to comment for the record Monday, as did Vice Mayor Anthony L. Burfoot and Councilman Tommy Smigiel. Other council members could not be reached for comment. Jones did not return phone calls.

Jones' contract probably will be discussed in a closed session tonight when the council meets at City Hall.

It isn't known when Jones would start work in Norfolk. Assistant City Manager Stanley A. Stein has been named the interim city manager. Williams departs on Jan. 14.

Regardless, when he comes to Norfolk, Jones must hit the ground running. The executive staff at City Hall has numerous vacancies. The city is short two assistant city managers, and the budget office recently lost Director Ron Williams Jr. and two other employees, who left to work elsewhere.

Stein said last week that the city faces a potential deficit of $44 million in the budget to be adopted this spring. Last spring, Regina Williams was forced to cut the budget about 5 percent. She trimmed services, including library and recreation center hours, and eliminated about 290 city jobs.

Harry Minium, (757) 446-2371, harry.minium@pilotonline.com