City CAO Byron Marshall Confirmed

Mayor Dwight Jones' choice for Chief Administrative Officer of the City of Richmond was confirmed tonight by a unanimous vote during a special session of the Richmond City Council. Marshall will immediately assume the role of CAO on a part time basis for the duration of July and assume the role in a full-time capacity as of August 1, 2009. He was sworn in tonight by the City Clerk, Lou Brown Ali.

During the special session, Mayor Jones said, "we all want viable neighborhoods, effective youth programs, great schools and a responsive City administration. I'm offering you one of the best and the brightest to fill out our administration's organization."

Following a national search for the City's CAO which began when Jones took office in January, Marshall became the candidate of choice in mid-June. He addressed the City Council during its regularly scheduled session on June 22, 2009, at which time he answered many questions that had arisen in the media. Council then scheduled the special session which took place tonight and provided an opportunity for public input and observation.

"I'm pleased that the Council saw fit to approve Byron Marshall tonight," said Mayor Jones. "This helps us build our capacity and will move us in the direction of being better able to deliver on the services that are needed for the citizens of Richmond."

"I've spent a little more than 30 years working in local government," said Marshall. "I've had serious involvement with budget and finance, utilities, police and corrections, recreation and parks, and personnel. I'm ready to bring all of these experiences to assist the City of Richmond in future endeavors."

Marshall most recently served as president and chief executive officer of the Austin Revitalization Authority in Austin, Texas; where he also served the City of Austin as first assistance city manager. His career includes service in the District of Columbia in the Department of Human Services as deputy controller, deputy director and acting director. In Houston, Texas he served with the Department of Finance and Administration as deputy director and acting director. In Atlanta, Georgia, he served as executive director of the Atlanta Downtown Development Authority and as chief operating officer of Atlanta. Marshall has a bachelor's degree from Syracuse University and has also completed more than half of the requirements for a master's in public administration with the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse.

Contact: Tammy Hawley (804) 646-3110