Home Meeting the moment: Kenny Lee proud to be first African American mayor in Waynesboro
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Meeting the moment: Kenny Lee proud to be first African American mayor in Waynesboro

Crystal Graham
Kenny Lee
Kenny Lee, Waynesboro mayor

Kenny Lee was overcome with emotion after he was chosen by his fellow City Council members to serve a two-year term as the Waynesboro mayor on Monday night. Despite the importance of the moment, he still somehow managed to push on with the agendas for the organizational meeting followed by the scheduled regular meeting.

While Lee believed he had the support of his fellow Council members, he wasn’t entirely convinced until the 5-0 vote was recorded, and he took the center chair on the dais.

A number of supporters from his 2022 Council campaign came to the meeting to witness history in the making.

“I knew that there was a possibility that I was going to be mayor. I had some support,” Lee told AFP on Tuesday morning. “When it finally happened, it was just a little overwhelming … just being a kid from Waynesboro who grew up, born and raised here, and then really understanding that I’m the first African American mayor in the city’s history. That’s something to be extremely proud of.”

Lee, 62, attended the Rosenwald School, Wayne Hills Elementary School, Kate Collins Middle School and Waynesboro High School.

He admittedly didn’t sleep very much on Monday night as he worked to process the historical nature of being selected to lead the River City.

“It was a learning curve last night, but I think that was just a lot of the moment and what the moment meant and the significance of the moment. I think that kind of heightened the intensity for me.

“I think with the next one [meeting], I will get settled in and hopefully be a little bit calmer and a little smoother in my approach. I’m hoping,” he said.

Lee ran for Waynesboro City Council as an independent but found out quickly that politics can sometimes play a role on moves that his fellow Council members make.

The trio of independents on Council – Lee, Terry Short Jr., and Lorie Akanbi – were immediately caught off guard when Lee called for nominations for vice mayor. The majority had appeared to be on the same page to have Short step up and fill the role and lend his vast expertise to Lee, but Republican Councilman Jim Wood quickly nominated Akanbi instead, who in turn, then nominated Short, creating some confusion among the Councilors.

Ultimately, the five-member Council chose to support Akanbi for the position, but it reinforced to Lee on day one that nothing is set in stone, even when you think it might be.

Lee said he had no comment on the turn of events Monday night related to the vice mayor vote.

“I just want us to press on and work together,” Lee said. “We’ll do what we need to do for the city, because ultimately it’s why we’re here.”

Ushering in a new era in Waynesboro


Lee, humbled and honored to have the distinction as the first African American mayor in Waynesboro, hopes that his role in the city might encourage others in the community to serve on boards and commissions and run for elected positions including City Council and the School Board.

“Everyone needs to get involved, regardless of your race, and be involved with the city and know that if you want to do these type of things, it’s possible,” Lee said.

Lee pointed to vice mayor Akanbi and three school board members – Nigel Stewart, Diana Williams and Debra Freeman – as perhaps the ushering in of a new era of leadership in Waynesboro.

Akanbi has a distinction of her own on Council: she is the first African American woman to serve as vice mayor and only the second Black woman to be elected to Waynesboro City Council.

“We just need more of the African American community to be involved in and be a part of what goes on and decisions that are being made,” Lee said. “We need to hear your voice because you’re a part of Waynesboro. Everybody is.

“I like to think of us all as one big happy family. That’s the way it was for me growing up.”

Annual board retreat to set priorities


On Friday, Waynesboro City Council members will meet for a retreat to set priorities for the next two years in the city.

“I think it’s everybody getting out their desires, their goals, you know, what are they?,” Lee said. “What do you want, especially our two new council folks, you know, what is it that you want to accomplish with your time on council? What’s important to you?”

Akanbi and Republican Jeremy Sloat, elected to the at-large seat in November, are freshman Councilors so both will have their first chance to share their ideas with city staff and fellow Council members at the retreat.

Lee said among his top priorities are the high school addition and gym, Nature’s Crossing, employee compensation and additional manpower for the fire and police departments.

“We can get those things out there, and then kind of figure out, do they align with the overall goals of Council? And then how do we achieve these? You know, how do we prioritize and go after these things?”

The retreat will be held on Jan. 17 in City Council chambers at 503 W. Main St. It runs from 8 a.m. to approximately 4 p.m. and is open to the public.


Follow our coverage of “Waynesboro City Council” on Augusta Free Press.

Crystal Graham

Crystal Graham

Crystal Abbe Graham is the regional editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1999 graduate of Virginia Tech, she has worked for 25 years as a reporter and editor for several Virginia publications, written a book, and garnered more than a dozen Virginia Press Association awards for writing and graphic design. She was the co-host of "Viewpoints," a weekly TV news show, and co-host of Virginia Tonight, a nightly TV news show on PBS. Her work on "Virginia Tonight" earned her a national Telly award for excellence in television.