Danville — The Danville City Council on Jan. 2 administered oaths of office to five re-elected council members and elected Alonzo Jones as mayor and James Buckner as vice mayor, each to two-year terms ending Dec. 31, 2026.

The council convened for its organizational meeting at which the oath of office — referencing the U.S. Constitution and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia — was administered to members beginning new four-year council terms running Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2028. City Attorney Clark Whitfield presided over the election process for mayor and vice mayor and reminded members that nominations do not require a second.

Reverend Campbell nominated Alonzo Jones for mayor; a second was recorded but not specified on the record. In a roll-call vote called aloud by the clerk, each member present voted for Jones; the clerk announced, “Mister Jones has been elected mayor.” Later in the meeting, Councilman Vogler nominated James Buckner for vice mayor and delivered an extended endorsement of Buckner’s civic and business leadership. The council elected Buckner by roll-call vote; the clerk announced, “Mister Buckner has been elected as the vice mayor for the city of Danville.”

Why it matters: The organizational meeting set the council’s leadership for the next two years and signaled the mayor’s early priorities — notably stepped-up cooperation with the school system and public-safety involvement in school-support efforts.

Vote results and formal actions

- Mayor: Alonzo Jones — Elected by roll call. Vote (as recorded on the roll call): Buckner, Campbell, Hood, Jones, Mayo, Miller, Saunders, Vogler, Whittle — all voiced “Jones” when called. Outcome: approved. (Mover: Reverend Campbell; second: not specified in the record.)

- Vice Mayor: James Buckner — Elected by roll call. Vote (as recorded on the roll call): Buckner, Campbell, Hood, Jones, Mayo, Miller, Saunders, Vogler, Whittle — all voiced “Buckner” when called. Outcome: approved. (Nominator: Councilman Vogler; second: not specified in the record.)

What councilmembers said and next steps

City Attorney Clark Whitfield opened the election process, telling members, “Please remember nominations do not require a second.” Reverend Campbell formally nominated Alonzo Jones for mayor, saying, “I’d like to nominate Alonzo Jones as mayor.” Councilman Vogler, nominating Buckner for vice mayor, urged colleagues to support Buckner and spoke at length about his qualifications.

In remarks after the elections, Alonzo Jones (mayor) said he and the city manager will form a small team to work on school safety and engagement and announced that the police chief had agreed to join that effort. Jones said the team will “see how we can align ourselves with Danville Public Schools” and that councilmembers would meet with the superintendent and assigned staff to identify ways council can support the 2025 school year; he said the group planned to include a police officer alongside the city manager and the mayor on the committee. Jones also invited the public to a school board event at 5:30 p.m. the same day at the school board office.

Other councilmembers offered brief remarks of congratulations. Vice Mayor James Buckner thanked his family and colleagues for their support. Several councilmembers reiterated priorities of supporting education, continuing economic growth, and reducing violent crime.

Customs and ceremonial items

As is tradition in Danville, councilmembers drew numbers for seating assignments for the two-year term. Mayor Jones presented a ceremonial helmet and shovel to local ambassadors Tammy Wright Warren and Craig Warren in recognition of community support for the city’s economic projects.

No policy ordinances, budget votes, contracts, or appointments were taken during the organizational meeting beyond the leadership elections and customary ceremonial matters. The mayor described the education-public safety partnership as an early priority and said staff and council will follow up on the committee’s work; no formal motion or ordinance creating the committee appeared in the meeting record.