5 candidates make their play for Hopewell city manager role surrounded by controversy
VENN
HOPEWELL, Va. (WRIC) — Hopewell residents got their first look at the five finalists for the city manager position as the city continues its legal battle with the former city manager, who was fired without cause in mid-2025.
On Thursday, March 5, Hopewell leaders held a public town hall to introduce residents to the five people vying for the city manager position.
Candidates Richard Douglas, Carl Geffken, Vincent Jones, Jonathan Rorie and Stacey Jordan answered various questions submitted by residents prior to the forum.
MORE: Meet the 5 candidates for Hopewell city manager, a role steeped in controversy
Out of 40 questions submitted from the public, the candidates collectively only answered nine. Topics ranged from infrastructure, problem solving, leadership, finance and public safety.
This comes as the court battle continues between the city and its previous city manager, Concetta Manker. Manker filed a $6.8 million racial discrimination lawsuit back in July 2025 after she and the former city clerk Brittani Williams were fired during a heated city council meeting two months earlier.
Many residents, as well as multiple council members, believe both firings were fueled by racism, as both Manker and Williams are Black. The votes to terminate them were along racial lines, with all of the city’s Black councilors voting “no” and all of the city’s white councilors voting “yes.”
“I wasn't happy with the termination of the last city manager that we had, [who] was doing a great job for the city,” said Hopewell resident Ed Houser.
Houser said accountability is a big quality he’d like to see in the next hire.
“Somebody who knows how to deal with city council,” Houser said. “The City Council seems to do what they want to do, regardless of what the residents care or have to say about it.”
The only questions asked during the meeting were those that were submitted virtually ahead of time. Hopewell Mayor Johnny Partin said this was due to limited time and wanting residents to meet candidates.
According to Partin, no questions were submitted in connection with Manker's firing.
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Deputy city manager and candidate Stacey Jordan declined to talk about Manker, but stated her case for why she should get the job.
“What I can do in my position as a city manager is just to ensure that they are aware of any issues that may arise, give them an honest opinion about those issues and give them the opportunity to make the best decisions for the city because they do implement policy, we implement operations,” Jordan said.
City council members will interview all candidates on Friday, March 6, before a decision is made on the new hire.
For all of 8News’ coverage on Manker and Williams' controversial firings, click here.
