The Roanoke City Council on Tuesday named a former Portsmouth municipal executive as interim city manager while a search is conducted for a permanent hire.
Lydia Pettis Patton was the first woman to serve as city manager in Portsmouth, a job she held from 2015 to 2020 before resigning several months before she was set to retire. According to media reports at the time, Portsmouth was embroiled in a controversy over felony charges that had been brought against several public officials and community leaders — including state Sen. Louise Lucas — related to protests over a Confederate monument.
Early this year, Patton again served a short term in Portsmouth as interim city manager.
She currently works for the Berkley Group, which was retained by the city to help search for a new city manager.
The Berkley Group referred three candidates, including Patton, to the Roanoke City Council for the interim job. She currently is a strategic executive manager with the company.
Following the council’s vote on Tuesday to hire Patton, Mayor Sherman Lea said that Patton has good knowledge of working with a city, that she listens, and that the council was “very impressed” with her interview. She has more than 30 years of municipal government experience.
“We’re pleased with her,” Lea said. “We heard citizens’ concerns and wanted to move this process as quick as possible.”
Former city manager Bob Cowell resigned abruptly in late May after seven years in the job; his last day was June 7.
His departure followed a tumultuous year at city hall, including the demotion of an assistant city manager following allegations of verbal abuse, and the resignation of the city’s parks and recreation director.
Although the city has two assistant city managers and an interim assistant, Lea stepped in as interim city manager after Cowell’s departure.
Patton replaces Lea, who held the acting position for less than a week.
“With my broad experience in local government, commitment to excellence, tireless dedication, and willingness to serve others, I look forward to working with Roanoke’s elected leadership, city employees, citizens, businesses, partners, and stakeholders,” Patton said in a press release from the city.
According to the release, Patton will serve a four-month term. City council member Trish White-Boyd, chair of the council’s personnel committee, said in the release that the search for Roanoke’s permanent city manager is underway.
Lea said he hopes to have the process completed by fall.
