Levar Stoney
Levar Marcus Stoney is an American politician who served as the 80th mayor of Richmond, Virginia, from 2017 to 2025. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia from 2014 through 2016, being the youngest member of Governor Terry McAuliffe's administration.
Stoney was a candidate for lieutenant governor of Virginia in the 2025 elections, but he narrowly lost the nomination to fellow Democrat Ghazala Hashmi.
Early and personal life
Stoney was born in Roosevelt, New York on Long Island. When he was seven years old, he moved with his younger brother to Virginia's Hampton Roads area. His parents never married; Stoney and his siblings were raised by their father and grandmother.At Tabb High School in Tabb, Virginia, Stoney became quarterback on the school's football team, and also president of the student body. Stoney graduated from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, in 2004. He was the first African-American male elected president of the student government, and involved with the school's chapter of the College Democrats.
In 2016, Stoney divorced his wife of four years. He became engaged to Brandy Washington, a manager for Altria on February 22, 2022. They married almost exactly a year later, on February 23, 2023. Their daughter Sunday Washington Stoney was born in March 2024.
Career
In the summer of 2004, Stoney served as a Governor's Fellow in Mark Warner's administration. Stoney then worked as an organizer in John Kerry's 2004 presidential campaign as well as for the Democratic National Committee and the Democratic Party of Wisconsin in a get out the vote effort. Five colleagues were charged with vandalizing a van intended for transporting Republican voters. He initially denied knowledge of the incident but later acknowledged to the FBI that he was in the office when his colleagues bragged about the act. He went on to fully cooperate with law enforcement and testified against those involved. Following questioning by Virginia Republican lawmakers during a 2014 confirmation hearing, it was accepted as "an isolated, youthful mistake."During the 2005 Virginia Attorney General election Stoney worked for Creigh Deeds, who narrowly lost. Stoney then worked for the Democratic Party of Virginia from 2006 to 2009, first as political director and then executive director. In this role, he worked extensively with President Barack Obama's successful 2008 presidential campaign.
In 2011, after his father died, Stoney began working as a consultant at Green Tech, an automotive company run by Terry McAuliffe. The following year Stoney began working with McAuliffe's 2013 gubernatorial campaign, as deputy campaign manager, under campaign manager Robby Mook. When McAuliffe won, Stoney became deputy director of the gubernatorial transition team, during which McAuliffe described Stoney as his "closest adviser."
Secretary of the Commonwealth
McAuliffe appointed Stoney as Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia on November 18, 2013. Following confirmation by the Virginia General Assembly, he took office on January 17, 2014.As Secretary of the Commonwealth, Stoney championed efforts for the restoration of voting rights for felons who have completed their sentences, an effort begun under Governor Bob McDonnell and accelerated under Governor McAuliffe. Stoney said that "once you have served your time and paid your due, we still should not be punishing you years afterwards. Instead, we should find ways to give that individual an opportunity to better themselves and to contribute to society."
Mayor of Richmond
Elections and transition
On April 21, 2016, Stoney announced that he would run for Mayor of Richmond in the 2016 election. He announced his candidacy after resigning as Secretary of the Commonwealth. The incumbent, Dwight Clinton Jones, was ineligible to run for reelection due to Richmond's two-term limit.Stoney won the election over Jack Berry, 36% to 34%, with Joe Morrissey in third place. Shortly after the election, Mayor-elect Stoney named Tiffany Jana and Bill Leighty as co-chairs of his transition team, with University of Richmond professor Thad Williamson named as director.
Stoney was sworn into office on December 31, 2016. At 35 years of age, he became Richmond's youngest elected mayor. He was the third strong mayor in the city's history.
Stoney was reelected in 2020 winning the most votes in six of Richmond's nine districts allowing him to avoid a runoff.
Tenure
Performance review
Upon taking office as mayor, Stoney commissioned a top-to-bottom performance audit of all city departments, conducted by the Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at VCU, to be completed within 100 days of taking office with the aim of improving efficiency and address dissatisfaction with Richmond's government to create a more efficient administration.Cigarette tax
In March 2019, Mayor Stoney proposed adding a 50-cent tax per pack of cigarettes, representing Richmond's first cigarette tax. The City Council approved the 2020 budget, which included a $17 million increase for Richmond Public Schools and over $15 million for street paving, and was not able to find a majority consensus on eliminating or decreasing Stoney's proposed cigarette tax, allowing it to pass with the budget with projections it would generate over $3 million annually.Education
Education funding
On September 3, 2020, Stoney presented the keys to three new schools—Cardinal Elementary, Henry Marsh Elementary, and River City Middle—to their principals after construction that was financed thanks to funding from a 1.5% increase in the meals tax he had proposed. The new schools were described as much needed addition to Richmond Public Schools and featured specialized facilities such as science labs, art and music classrooms, and "calm down" rooms, contributing to enhanced learning environments for Richmond students.In another effort to support the Richmond Public School System, Stoney passed the "Pathways Program" which pays for any Richmond Public School student's tuition at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College beginning fall 2023. Additionally, the Stoney administration was able to increase local contributions to the public school system by 46.1% since the 2017 fiscal year while also investing in the Positive Youth Development & Youth Violence Prevention Fund for 12–19 year olds in the area.
The fiscal year 2025 budget brought total local contributions to Richmond Public Schools to $239.3 million, an increase of 58%.
After-school programming
Stoney made expanding out-of-school programming to reach every elementary and middle school student a priority during his campaign and maintained the commitment in office. In 2018, Stoney announced the expansion of Richmond Public Schools to allow all 33 Richmond Public Schools elementary and middle schools to provide every students with transportation to and from the programs. The expansion was funded by local nonprofits and the private sector. By 2020, after-school programming was available at all Richmond elementary and middle schools at least twice a week focused on arts, science, athletics and more provided by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond as part of a partnership with a local nonprofit, NextUp RVA, with transportation provided by RPS.Public safety
Positive Youth Development Fund
In 2022, Stoney launched the Positive Youth Development Fund initiative as part of Richmond's broader gun violence prevention strategy. The fund, which incorporated American Rescue Plan Act funding, provides financial support to community-based organizations that offer programs aimed at keeping youth engaged and providing safe, constructive environments driven by the need to address the root causes of youth violence through educational and recreational opportunities, particularly during out-of-school time. In its first year, the fund awarded $1 million through NextUp RVA to combat youth violence and improve safety in addition to funding to the Carol Adams Foundation to fund a summer camp, supporting summer camps and other youth-oriented programs across the city.By 2024, the Positive Youth Development Fund had distributed nearly $500,000 in additional grants to over 40 nonprofit organizations. These grants are used to enhance youth programs focusing on arts, education, athletics, and mental health resources, with the goal of breaking cycles of violence and fostering positive development for children in vulnerable communities. The fund is part of a larger city initiative to reduce violent crime, which decreased 22% under Stoney as funding for Richmond Public Schools and expanded after-school programming increased.
Public safety task force
In July 2020, Stoney announced the formation of a task force to "reimagine" public safety with 20 members tasked with reviewing the city's law enforcement policies to recommending changes. The initiative aimed to promote transparency and improve public safety by addressing key issues including the Richmond Police Department's use of force policies and the broader need for reform in Virginia's law enforcement practices.After three months of review, the Task Force presented 15 recommendations focused on police accountability, use of force training, enhanced mental health resources, and greater community engagement. The recommendations aimed to improve the relationship between law enforcement and the Richmond community, emphasizing the need for a more accountable, transparent, and community-oriented approach to public safety.
Civilian Review Board (CRB)
In 2022, Stoney proposed the creation of an independent Civilian Review Board in Richmond to oversee the police department, an initiative that was later approved by the City Council. The CRB, established in response to recommendations from the Public Safety Task Force, aims to increase oversight and accountability within the Richmond Police Department.The board, consisting of eight members, will review officer misconduct, internal investigations, and provide policy and disciplinary recommendations. With a focus on enhancing police transparency and public safety, the CRB will require a five-member majority to advance any proposed actions.