Danville City Council welcomes two new members

A portrait of former Danville City Councilwoman and Mayor Ruby Archie watched over the proceedings in City Council chambers as two new members and two incumbents were sworn in Thursday.

Alonzo Jones and John Gilstrap, the new City Council members, joined re-elected incumbents Dr. Gary Miller and Adam Tomer.

Most of the speeches given during the midday ceremony in some way alluded to Archie’s service to the city and thanked her family for sharing her with Danville for so many years.

Archie, who served on City Council for 16 years after retiring from a 37-year career with Danville Public Schools, died Saturday. She had not run for re-election in May, citing her desire to spend more time with her family.

In unanimous voting for both, Sherman Saunders was elected mayor of the city for a second term and T. David Luther the vice mayor.

“I feel wonderful. I’m excited, and I’m ready to go to work,” Gilstrap said minutes before being sworn in.

Gilstrap said serving on City Council has been a goal he has considered for the last couple of years, taking it seriously the last six or eight months.

“It’s a good time to serve the city in a different capacity, and I thank the good citizens of Danville who have given me this opportunity,” Gilstrap said.

Alonzo Jones said his plan was to work together cohesively with City Council just as he has in the past with his work on the Danville School Board.

His focus as city councilman will be on jobs creation, a well-trained work force and a high-quality educational system, not only for grades K-12 but higher education also, he said.

Jones was having a doubly good day. He had also just found out that he had been promoted to director of facilities at Averett University.

His thoughts turned toward his friend and mentor, Ruby Archie.

“When I received a phone call from Miss Archie when I was running for City Council, we talked about education and the work force,” he recalled. “In her last advice, she said, ‘Alonzo, just as you did with the school board, the city manager and the city leadership team, work together cohesively. That’s my plan.’”

After the swearing-in and elections, City Council members participated in the traditional lottery of the seats placement. City Attorney Clarke Whitfield passed around a silver cup from which the councilmen drew their seat number. Whitfield then placed their nameplates in front of their new seats, and the councilmen played somewhat a game of musical chairs, taking their new seats and congratulating each other.

Each then had the opportunity to speak before adjourning for lunch on the second floor.