When Richmond voters elected Danny Avula as the city's next mayor, he became the first non-African American candidate to win that seat since Richmonders began electing a strong mayor in 2004.

On Wednesday afternoon, standing next to outgoing Mayor Levar Stoney in front of City Hall, Dr. Danny Avula laid out his vision for Richmond and his administration, after emerging as the leading candidate in the city’s mayoral race.

Avula’s roots are deep in service. His father Raj grew up in rural India and immigrated to the U.S. at the age of 19, serving in the U.S. Navy before working for the Department of Defense. His mother is Lalitha who brought him to the US when he was six months old.

Richmond’s newly elected mayor, Dr. Danny Avula, will address residents Wednesday afternoon. Avula, who captured about 46% of the total votes Tuesday, faced four other candidates for mayor. He is well known in Richmond and across the Commonwealth for his work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mayor Levar Stoney held a press conference with mayor-elect Dr. Danny Avula on Wednesday to talk about the future of Richmond ahead of a change in leadership.

Danny Avula is poised to win Richmond's mayoral election and beat out four other candidates for the top position in city government. Why it matters: If he wins, he'll be the first-ever immigrant and Asian mayor of Richmond and the first non-Black mayor in over 20 years.

Avula is a familiar face in Richmond, having served as director of the Richmond City and Henrico County health districts and later state vaccination coordinator during the COVID-19 pandemic.