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Bristol Virginia City Council holds organizational meeting; Holmes elected mayor, officers and appointments approved
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Summary
At a special Jan. 5 organizational meeting, the Bristol Virginia City Council adopted its agenda, reappointed the city clerk, elected Jake Holmes as mayor and Neil Osborne as vice mayor, approved the city manager and city attorney appointments (both with one dissent), convened a closed session under state law, and announced council assignments to regional boards.
At a special organizational meeting on Jan. 5, 2026, the Bristol Virginia City Council adopted its agenda and completed a slate of regular organizational business, electing leadership and approving staff appointments.
The council voted to elect Jake Holmes — who was identified in the record as the council’s vice mayor before the vote — to serve as mayor. The nomination was seconded and carried by roll-call vote. After the vote the gavel was passed to the incoming mayor; the record contains an inconsistent rendering of the gavel pass that names a different individual, but the council’s roll-call vote recorded the election of Jake Holmes.
The council also nominated and approved Neil Osborne to serve as vice mayor for 2026. Osborne thanked his colleagues after the vote, saying he appreciated their confidence and looked forward to a productive year with the new mayor.
Megan was reappointed as city clerk for 2026 by unanimous roll-call vote. Council also nominated Randall Eads to serve as city manager; the motion carried on a roll-call vote with Councilmember Pollard recorded as voting no. The council subsequently nominated Randall (the transcript variably records the surname as “Eads” and “Eades”) to serve as city attorney; that motion also carried with Pollard recorded as the lone no vote.
Council moved into a closed session citing state law: the record states, 'Pursuant to section 2.2 dash 3 7 1 1.11, Code of Virginia 1950 as amended' for discussion of prospective candidates for employment and other personnel matters. By roll call after the closed session, members certified that only matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements were discussed.
Toward the end of the meeting the council announced assignments of members to a range of boards and committees, including the Chamber of Commerce, Bristol Virginia Utility Authority, Board of Social Services, Highlands Community Services, Rhythm and Roots, Redevelopment Housing Authority/Beyond Housing, Mount Rogers planning bodies, and others.
The meeting concluded following a motion to adjourn, approved by roll-call vote.
Quote excerpts from the record include the incoming mayor’s remarks thanking the outgoing mayor and staff and Osborne’s comment after his vice-mayor election: 'I appreciate the confidence that my fellow council members have put in me to serve as vice mayor, and I'm very excited to work with you, Mayor Holmes.'
