ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR)—Roanoke has its new city manager, Valmarie Turner, who was officially sworn in Monday morning.
It started with an oath and ended with a signature and thus began her tenure as city manager.
“To the mayor and city council, thank you for your confidence in my leadership,” she said during her speech. “I am deeply honored by this opportunity and committed to partnering with each of you to ensure that we fill the vision you’ve set forth for this community.”
Turner said she is thrilled to get going and is eager to work with council members and the citizens of Roanoke to help bring as many visions as they can, to life.
Among those she had in mind was to strengthen the local economy, advance collaboration and inclusion, invest in infrastructure and support local neighborhoods and businesses. Through this teamwork, she believes Roanoke can become a better place.
“Roanoke’s best days are not behind us; they are ahead of us,” Turner said. “Together we’ll continue to shine as a city of opportunity, innovation and community.”
Turner brings more than 30 years of experience at the local government level.
Officials said they have trust in her to bring that experience to her time in the Star City.
“Mrs. Turner will do an excellent job,” Doctor L. Pettis Patton, the former Roanoke interim city manager, said. “She has vast experience in municipal government, and it takes experience in government in order to be a good city manager, so I’m delighted to pass the torch to her, and for her to lead this wonderful city.”
Despite Doctor Pettis Patton saying that, she admitted she will miss Roanoke. She will miss the people and the view of the mountains.
However, she said she will certainly come back and visit, and hasn’t ruled out serving the city again.
“Thank you so much for allowing me to serve,” she said. “It has been an honor and a privilege, and I will always remember Roanoke, and be here if ever needed again.”
Doctor Pettis Patton replaced Bob Cowell as city manager after he resigned in June.