New Charlottesville City Manager Sam Sanders was sworn in at the July 17 City Council meeting. Sanders, whose first day on the job is August 1, has served as the deputy city manager of operations since July 2021, and succeeds interim city manager Michael Rogers.
“When we launched the search for our next city manager, we had some characteristics that we all agreed on,” Mayor Lloyd Snook said at the July 12 press conference announcing Sanders’ selection. “We wanted someone with experience, with solid judgment, an innovative and problem solving spirit, a strong commitment to making government help people who need help, a servant’s heart, a sense of humor, and the ability to walk on water was seen as a plus.”
Addressing the crowd at the press conference, Sanders shared his vision for the city and his optimism about Charlottesville’s future. “Charlottesville has a rich and complicated history, and I acknowledge that,” Sanders said. “Our little city is on the world map, and I am encouraged that it is not simply because of the events of 2017. What I want to see is us achieve an evolution from that series of events, to reclaim our narrative, and one that will inspire us and other communities will desire.”
As city manager, Sanders will oversee the Office of Budget and Performance Management, the Office of Communications, the Office of Economic Development, the Office of Housing and Redevelopment, and the Office of Human Rights for Charlottesville. One of his first tasks will be to fill his previous role as deputy city manager of operations. Sanders will work closely with Rogers during a two-week transition period to ensure the change goes as smoothly as possible.
Beyond appointing his replacement, Sanders plans to address major issues including housing, gun violence, and the income divide. While he believes that Charlottesville is “punching above its weight class” on many things, Sanders acknowledged that there is still work to be done. “We absolutely do have two life experiences here in Charlottesville, and we can do what we need to do to bridge that divide.”
Following Sanders’ remarks at the press conference, all five city counselors expressed enthusiasm about the new city manager. “I can stand here and honestly say I have never felt more optimistic about the future of city government,” said Michael Payne.
On July 17, Sanders told C-VILLE that “Council is working on its Strategic Plan, so we have some work to do in support of concluding that progress and transitioning into an implementation phase. Also, we have our ongoing work with implementing the Compensation and Class Study. There is a new compensation policy and pay structure that we will be presenting to staff and council over the next few weeks. This will be a multi-step process, so we hope to produce a timeline on this project as well. Lastly, we have begun collective bargaining negotiations, so the work with the three bargaining units is also a priority at this time.”
As he settles into his new role, Sanders will work with City Council and staff to organize his long to-do list.
“Traditional local government focuses on service delivery, financial operations, and business climate,” says Sanders, addressing the different needs of Charlottesville residents. “All of that is important, critically important. But it is imperative that we concern ourselves with the conditions of people’s lives. If they cannot make ends meet, we can close those gaps.”
Sanders says the city has begun working on several key initiatives. “We are already doing things like housing production, tax relief, and climate action. We have a solid list of things that have moved from ideas to action, so we have to continue to keep those things moving forward and evaluating the results achieved.”
Regarding future areas of focus, Sanders’ work “will also include closing gaps, such as impacting the unhoused, assisting more families on the edge of financial devastation, and engaging residents in matters of justice around policing, climate, and culture.”
For those interested in meeting Sanders, the city will host a town hall on Thursday, July 20, from 5 to 7pm at Carver Recreation Center. It will also be available as a livestream. To submit a question for the town hall, email clerk@charlottesville.gov.