Meet the 5 candidates for Hopewell city manager, a role steeped in controversy
VENN
HOPEWELL, Va. (WRIC) -- Five candidates are vying for a position within Hopewell's city government that sits at the center of a fiery controversy. Here's what we know about them.
In May 2025, during a contentious meeting of the Hopewell City Council, both previous city manager Concetta Manker and city clerk Brittani Williams were terminated without cause.
The votes to terminate Manker and Williams were along racial lines, with all of the city’s Black councilors voting “no” and all of the city’s white councilors voting “yes.” There have been accusations from the general public, the Black councilors and Manker herself that these firings were racially motivated.
Manker has since sued the city for more than $6.8 million, providing what she describes as evidence of this racism, as well as violations of city council’s own rules of order. At all points, the city’s white councilors have firmly denied these allegations. Most recently, the involved councilors filed a motion asking for qualified immunity.
Just over 10 months later, on Tuesday, March 3, Hopewell shared more information on the five finalists for the city manager position. Those individuals are:
- Stacey Jordan, current chief financial officer and deputy city manager in Hopewell
- Has held current role since 2024
- Previously served as chief financial officer in both Dumfries and Petersburg
- Richard Douglas, current county administrator in Sussex County
- Has held current role since 2020
- Previously served as economic development director for Colonial Beach, also held multiple prior city manager positions
- Vincent Jones, current county administrator in Loudoun County
- Has held current role since 2024
- Previously served as county manager in Warren County, North Carolina, deputy city manager in Portsmouth and deputy council chief of staff in Richmond
- Carl Geffken, former city administrator in Fort Smith, Arkansas
- Held most recent role for eight years
- Previously served as chief operating officer for Berks County, Pennsylvania and managing director for Reading, Pennsylvania
- Jonathon Rorie, former city manager in Spring Lake, North Carolina
- Length of tenure in most recent role not specified by Hopewell officials
- Previously served as city manager in Camden, South Carolina and Peachtree, Georgia
8News was able to confirm that both Geffken and Rorie were fired from their most recent roles.
In Geffken's case, on Dec. 10, 2024, the Fort Smith Board of Directors voted unanimously to fire him effective immediately following a "performance evaluation," per city documents.
Just a week prior to his firing, a hot mic captured Geffken saying "God, these people are stupid" after a public commenter shared her thoughts on a city ordinance during a Board of Directors meeting.
Meanwhile, Rorie was terminated from his position with Spring Lake in early February without cause, per the city's mayor, who voiced her opposition to the firing on Facebook.
Residents can meet the city manager candidates during a public town hall at the Hopewell Community Center -- located at 100 W. City Point Rd. -- on Thursday, March 5. It will run from 6 to 7:30 p.m., officials said. Anyone who would like to attend must preregister before 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 4.
Additionally, those interested in asking candidates questions must submit those questions ahead of time. No questions will be taken from the audience during the town hall "to keep the event on schedule and address a wide range of topics," per a Feb. 25 press release from the city.
While Hopewell is still working to fill its city manager role, the city clerk role has already been filled as of October 2025 by Bishelya Howard.
For all of 8News’ coverage on these controversial firings, click here.
