Roanoke City Council appoints Dr. Lydia Pettis Patton as interim city manager, replacing Bob Cowell.

Roanoke City Council appoints Dr. Lydia Pettis Patton, a 30-year municipal government veteran and former Portsmouth City Manager, as its new interim city manager. Patton starts a four-month term immediately, replacing seven-year City Manager Bob Cowell. The search for a permanent city manager is already underway, with consulting firm Berkley Group handling both the interim appointment and search.