Staunton City Council unanimously elects Michelle Edwards as mayor, confirms vice mayor and committee appointments

Councilor Michelle Edwards was elected mayor of Staunton and Councilor Brad Arrowood was elected vice mayor at the Staunton City Council organizational meeting, where the council also reaffirmed its procedural memoranda, adopted a meeting-calendar resolution and made committee and board appointments.

The council voted unanimously on all formal actions. The first formal motion, to “reaffirm the existing council procedural memoranda,” passed on a roll call in which all council members voted aye.

The council nominated and elected Michelle Edwards to a two-year term as mayor. Mr. Blair nominated Edwards, and Edwards said, “I do. I accept the nomination.” A subsequent motion to elect her passed unanimously on a roll call in which all seven council members voted aye.

Councilor Brad Arrowood was nominated and elected vice mayor for a two-year term. Arrowood accepted the nomination and the motion to elect him passed unanimously on a roll call in which all seven council members voted aye.

The council also adopted a resolution establishing its regular meeting dates for the period Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2026, as presented. Staff noted the schedule includes second meetings that the council normally does not hold in November and December and said council may later consider skipping some summer meetings; the calendar resolution was adopted unanimously.

On appointments, the council voted to appoint a three-member nominations committee, responsible for recommending candidates to city boards and commissions and for appointing council liaisons. The motion named Councilor Alice Woods, Councilor Jeff Overholtzer, and Councilor Blake Shepherd to the nominations committee; that motion passed unanimously.

Separately, the council approved a slate of council liaisons to boards and commissions. The approved assignments included (as announced by council): Jeff Overholtzer — Agricultural Forest Advisory Committee and Lewis Creek Watershed Advisory Committee; Michelle Edwards (mayor) — Cable Television Commission and Library Advisory Board and School Board liaison; Corrie Park — Capshaw and Tourism Advisory Board; Brad Arrowood (vice mayor) — Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission, Historic Preservation Commission and SAWMPO; Alice Woods — Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commission and Redevelopment and Housing Authority; Adam Campbell — Planning Commission, Virginia First Cities board and Youth Commission; Blake Shepherd — Landscape Advisory Board and Recreational Advisory Commission; and other named assignments as presented. The motion approving the appointments passed unanimously.

Council members used the closing portion of the meeting for brief remarks thanking staff, volunteers and community members. Councilor Adam Campbell and Councilor Jeff Overholtzer offered congratulations to the new mayor and vice mayor and highlighted the role of advisory committees and civic groups in supporting city work. Mayor Edwards closed the meeting by thanking staff and family and saying she looked forward to “a great productive next two years.”

The organizational meeting concluded after the council completed the scheduled actions and brief member comments.