Mayor Jones Announces DCAO Appointments
Mayor Dwight C. Jones today announced the appointments of Norman D. Butts as Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Finance and Debra D. Gardner as Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Human Services.
Norman Butts, previously Director of Finance for the Town of Leesburg, will begin his tenure with the City on June 23. Butts is a lawyer, accountant, educator, public administrator, and a former elected official. He has been an Inspector General, Auditor, Chief Finance Officer, Debt Manager, and a City Manager.
His decade of service as Director of Finance for the Town of Leesburg has positioned Leesburg for a Triple A bond rating, up from an A1 standing when he started. His career includes being named the first Inspector General for Montgomery County, Maryland, one of the most diverse and complex jurisdictions in America. He was also an auditor in Concord, New Hampshire, where he served three terms on the City Council. In that elected office, he served as a member of the fiscal policy committee and as chairman of the ethics committee. He also served as a Debt Manager in the Commonwealth’s State Treasurer’s office when Jerry Baliles was Governor of Virginia.
As the City’s DCAO for Finance and Administration he will be responsible for the Departments of Finance, Procurement, Human Resources, Budget and Strategic Planning, and Information Technology.
Debra Gardner, previously Chief Deputy Director of the Virginia Department of Corrections, begins her term with the City today. Gardner has career-long success as a public administrator, corrections professional, justice services administrator, intervention specialist, and a prevention expert.
She began her career as a social worker and she has a background in drug treatment, substance abuse, domestic violence prevention and foster care. As Chief Deputy Director of the Virginia Department of Corrections, she shared oversight of more than 12,000 employees in 94 operational units, with an annual budget of $1.3 billion.
Her career includes helping to establish the Commission on Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program, where she ultimately served as Executive Director.
As the City’s DCAO for Human Services she will be responsible for the Departments of Social Services; Justice Services; and Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities; the Mayor’s Youth Academy; the Neighbor-to-Neighbor Volunteer Initiative and the new Mayor’s Office of Community Wealth Building. She will also serve as the City’s liaison to Richmond’s Public Libraries, Richmond Behavioral Health Authority and Richmond City Health District.
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“Debra Gardner is the change agent we need for our Human Services portfolio,” said Mayor Jones. “Debra understands case management, programs to help crime victims, special investigations, programs to help people who once broke the law re-enter society, and she is guided by an overall commitment to addressing social challenges.”
“Norman Butts is a career professional who can help us improve our operations,” said Mayor Jones. “Norman is a lawyer, accountant, educator, public administrator, and a former elected official. He has been an Inspector General, Auditor, Chief Finance Officer, Debt Manager, and even a City Manager. I think he’s got all the bases covered.”
His decade of service as Director of Finance for the Town of Leesburg has positioned Leesburg for a Triple A bond rating, up from an A1 standing when he started. His career includes being named the first Inspector General for Montgomery County, Maryland, one of the most diverse and complex jurisdictions in America. He was also an auditor in Concord, New Hampshire, where he served three terms on the City Council. In that elected office, he served as a member of the fiscal policy committee and as chairman of the ethics committee. He also served as a Debt Manager in the Commonwealth’s State Treasurer’s office when Jerry Baliles was Governor of Virginia.
As the City’s DCAO for Finance and Administration he will be responsible for the Departments of Finance, Procurement, Human Resources, Budget and Strategic Planning, and Information Technology.
Debra Gardner, previously Chief Deputy Director of the Virginia Department of Corrections, begins her term with the City today. Gardner has career-long success as a public administrator, corrections professional, justice services administrator, intervention specialist, and a prevention expert. She began her career as a social worker and she has a background in drug treatment, substance abuse, domestic violence prevention and foster care. As Chief Deputy Director of the Virginia Department of Corrections, she shared oversight of more than 12,000 employees in 94 operational units, with an annual budget of $1.3 billion.
Her career includes helping to establish the Commission on Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program, where she ultimately served as Executive Director.
As the City’s DCAO for Human Services she will be responsible for the Departments of Social Services; Justice Services; and Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities; the Mayor’s Youth Academy; the Neighbor-to-Neighbor Volunteer Initiative and the new Mayor’s Office of Community Wealth Building. She will also serve as the City’s liaison to Richmond’s Public Libraries, Richmond Behavioral Health Authority and Richmond City Health District.
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“Debra Gardner is the change agent we need for our Human Services portfolio,” said Mayor Jones. “Debra understands case management, programs to help crime victims, special investigations, programs to help people who once broke the law re-enter society, and she is guided by an overall commitment to addressing social challenges.”
“Norman Butts is a career professional who can help us improve our operations,” said Mayor Jones. “Norman is a lawyer, accountant, educator, public administrator, and a former elected official. He has been an Inspector General, Auditor, Chief Finance Officer, Debt Manager, and even a City Manager. I think he’s got all the bases covered.”