Mayor-elect Danny Avula on Thursday afternoon announced the first members of his transition team, which will help him build his administration before he takes office in January.

Avula’s spokesperson Lawson Wijesooriya announced that Reggie Gordon and Katherine Whitney will serve as co-chairs of the team, while Thad Williamson will serve as director.

Gordon has been the president and CEO of the Richmond Memorial Health Foundation since June 2023. Whitney is the co-founder of Warren Whitney, a management consulting firm. Williamson is a professor of leadership studies, philosophy, politics, economics and law at the University of Richmond.

Additional members include Sarah Carpenter, an attorney who assisted with Avula’s campaign; Ruth Morrison, a policy director at the Richmond and Henrico County Health District, which Avula previously led; and Wijesooriya.

Avula plans to add more members to the team, according to the release.

In a statement, Avula said he was grateful to have “talented and experienced Richmonders” on the team as he assumes his new role.

“We now start the work of building a Richmond where everyone’s rights are protected and where no one gets left behind,” he said. “I appreciate Mayor (Levar) Stoney and his administration’s cooperation in ensuring a smooth transition over the next two months.”

Avula previously stated his intentions to dismiss current Chief Administrative Officer Lincoln Saunders and to conduct a nationwide search for Saunders’ replacement.

Shakeup is also possible in the city’s Department of Finance, where multiple City Council candidates — five of whom were elected Tuesday — said they favored removing current Director Sheila White in light of recent issues with meals tax collection and billing.

Avula’s position on White’s employment is not clear. Wijesooriya did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In a news conference on Oct. 30, consultants hired by the Stoney administration to review City Hall’s performance urged the incoming administration to exercise restraint in making hiring and firing decisions and to refrain from relieving senior employees.

“A lot of time has gone into hiring good people,” said Jim Burke, one of the two consultants who surveyed City Hall directors at Stoney’s request. “I would not recommend changing anybody on the decks right now.”

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