New Richmond CAO says residents should expect change ‘from day one’

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Richmond’s new Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) plans to provide top notch service as he starts his tenure as new city hall leader.

On Monday, July 21, Odie Donald II and Mayor Danny Avula answered questions at a meet and greet, addressing how he plans to help the River City.

Donald, who most recently served as chief of staff for the mayor of Atlanta, Georgia, was nominated by Mayor Danny Avula on June 6 following a nationwide search to replace former chief administrative officer Lincoln Saunders who resigned in December 2024.

Donald said he’s already started ingratiating himself with the community.

“I've been to the barbershop and I've heard some of the things that they [residents] have to say,” Donald said. “Streamlining services, making it easy for people to access is something that I've heard a little bit. Another example was somebody with a business license.”

Donald brings in more than two decades of experience. He previously served as Chief of Staff for the city of Atlanta and was a County Administrator and City Manager while in South Fulton, Georgia. 

Donald inherits several challenges that start at the city’s finance department. On Wednesday, July 16, the director of Richmond’s finance department Sheila White addressed “pockets of secrecy and sabotage” in the office.

Additionally, Donald will be taking on outdated infrastructure, poor management practices and an overall lack of standard operating procedures that caused January’s water crisis.

Donald said it will be a learning curve but promises to deliver services at the highest level and plans to earn the trust of his fellow leaders and residents ‘one day at a time.’

“When can citizens expect change? I mean, I think they should expect that from day one,” Donald said. “It's not a secret that in Richmond that has been a challenge, but I think it is because we haven't always been on the same page and maybe going out to the community and listening and understanding, you know, what their desires are.”