CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. (AP) – The city of Charlottesville, which is still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s white nationalist rallies, has a new mayor.
Nikuyah Walker, an independent person who was one of two new council members elected in November, was selected by her council colleagues at a meeting on Tuesday evening. News outlets report that Walker will be the first black woman mayor of the city of Virginia.
Walker was an outspoken critic of the reaction of local leaders to the rallies and the frequent attendance at council meetings.
Former Mayor Mike Signer will continue to be represented on the five-member council.
In Charlottesville, being mayor is part-time with council meetings. But Signer also became a public face of the city when it came to the rallies, the largest of which took place in August and sank into violent chaos.