FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 17, 2023
Deputy City Manager Sam Sanders Officially Appointed by Council as Charlottesville’s New City Manager
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – Charlottesville Mayor J. Lloyd Snook announced the selection Samuel Sanders, Jr. as the new City Manager Wednesday, July 12. He has officially been appointed by City Council and his contract approved for his first day in the role on August 1. Mr. Sanders has served as Deputy City Manager of Operations for the City since July 2021, after serving most recently as the Executive Director of Baton Rouge, Louisiana's Mid City Redevelopment Alliance.
“When he came to Charlottesville, he was put in charge of departments and divisions dealing with areas like housing, transit, public works, planning, zoning. In some of those departments he found disfunction… he has quietly and effectively dealt with those dysfunctional areas,” said Mayor Snook.
As a native of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Sanders is a graduate of Christopher Newport University in Newport News and holds an M.P.A. from Troy State University. He completed the Achieving Excellence program at Harvard University’s Kennedy’s School of Government in 2020.
“I am thankful for the opportunity to be the next City Manager of Charlottesville. It’s a big job and I’m ready to give it my all,” said Mr. Sanders. He added that, “I accept the assignment to lead the charge and I look forward to talking with anyone who is willing to not only engage in problem identification, but also interested in solution consideration, too.”
This officially starts the two-week transition with Interim City Manager Michael Rogers. Mr. Sanders has stated that his first priority as City Manager will be working to fill his current position.
Media Contact
Office of the City Manager
City of Charlottesville
434-970-3101
citymanager@charlottesville.gov
