In as private ceremony attended by his family, Marcus D. Jones was sworn in Thursday as Charlotte city manager.
Jones, who held the same position in Norfolk, Va., became the first African American to hold that post in Charlotte, a city that provides services to more than 800,000 residents.
“As I step into the role as the city manager of this great city, I am excited to get to know the dedicated city employees we have serving Charlotte and those who live here,” he said in a statement released by the city. “Charlotte is a wonderful place and I’m proud to call it my home. I’m looking forward to working with the city council to drive their priorities as we continue building our community.”
He said he plans to work with the philanthropic, business and faith-based communities as well as elected officials at the state and local levels.
“By strengthening these partnerships, we can work together to create a city supportive of all community members,” he said.
Jones has more than 23 years of public service, including serving as deputy secretary of finance for two governors in Virginia. Jones received a bachelor’s degree in public administration from James Madison University and a Master of Public Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Jones, a Virginia native, grew up in Caroline County, north of Richmond. He is the son of a Baptist minister and has three children, according to a recent profile in the Hampton Roads Business Journal.
