Richmond School Board member Nicole Jones has received a big boost to her campaign for the 9th District City Council seat.

City Council on Monday unanimously voted to appoint Ms. Jones as the interim council member for the district effective Jan. 1 – giving her a leg up in her bid to win the seat in next November’s election.

Ms. Jones will succeed Dr. Michael J. Jones, current council president and district councilman, who will officially leave the council on Sunday, Dec. 31.

The founding pastor of Village of Faith Ministries is headed to the House of Delegates following his election in November to represent the 77th District in South Side and Chesterfield County.

Dr. Jones, no relation to Ms. Jones, did not vote on her appointment. However, he publicly endorsed Ms. Jones, also deputy director of the nonprofit Art 180, and told the Free Press last month that he had gained commitments from a majority of members to make it a done deal.

Ms. Jones was recognized but did not speak after the vote.

She has told her School Board colleagues she would resign her seat, which will trigger an appointment process to fill that seat until the next election.

Two others competed for the council appointment: Angela Fontaine, an independent consultant, and Stephanie Starling, a consultant to Verizon.

Ms. Starling said she plans to challenge Ms. Jones for the 9th District seat;

Ms. Fontaine indicated she did not plan to run.

The appointment of Dr. Jones’ choice for his replacement was one of the gifts that his council colleagues presented to him along with verbal bouquets acknowledging his seven years of service and bidding him farewell during the final 2023 meeting.

On behalf of the council, Vice President Kristen Nye, who is anticipated to become the next council president, presented Dr. Jones with eight bags of gummy bears, his favorite candy that he was prone to consume during meetings. He also received a bag full of energy drinks from the council staff.

Thanking his colleagues, he also praised City Clerk Candice Reid and her staff along with the members of the administration for the work they do.

Fifth District Councilwoman Stephanie A. Lynch participated with other members at the send-off ceremony of Dr. Jones that came at the start of the meeting, but left afterward because she is about to give birth to another child.

“We’re on baby watch,” Dr. Jones said as Ms. Lynch departed.

During the meeting, the council approved a package of changes to the City Charter that will be sent to the General Assembly for approval.

The key changes, if approved, would give Richmond the authority to provide subsidies to help people buy affordable homes and also to defer taxes for lower income homeowners; allow the council to raise the pay of its members; give the council more control over zoning changes; and strengthen the position of the chief administrative officer.

Council also approved the appointment of Riad Ali as the new city auditor to succeed Lou Lassiter, who retired in October.

Mr. Ali, who had been the assistant inspector general in Broward County, Fla., will take over from the interim city auditor, W. Bret Lewis, on Monday, Dec. 18.

In other business, the council honored the Virginia Union University football team for winning its first conference title in more than 20 years. Council also approved honorary street signs for three now deceased Richmonders, educator Eleanor Redd Binford, builder Melvin L. Davis Sr.

and record producer, community organizer and civic activist August Moon.