2026 SPECIAL SESSION I

ENROLLED

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2124

Commending Mary B. Bunting.

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, June 22, 2026

WHEREAS, Mary B. Bunting, a trailblazing civil servant and city manager of the City of Hampton, has greatly served the Hampton community for many years; and

WHEREAS, Mary Bunting was inspired to enter a career in public service by her mother, who served as city manager of Roanoke, and she prepared for her career by earning a bachelor's degree from Johns Hopkins University and a master's degree in public administration from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University; and

WHEREAS, Mary Bunting began serving the City of Hampton as an assistant to the city manager in January 1990 and five years later was promoted to the position of assistant city manager; then, in 2009, she made history when she became the first female city manager for the City of Hampton; and

WHEREAS, Mary Bunting's accomplishments over her career with the City of Hampton include the creation of the city's 3-1-1 customer call center, the consolidation of departments to enhance customer service and affordability, and the development of a citizen engagement budget effort; and

WHEREAS, Mary Bunting has fostered the growth, prosperity, and longevity of Hampton by leading multiple development and redevelopment initiatives, fostering the Resilient Hampton sea level rise and flood mitigation plan, and co-chairing Hampton City Public Schools' Academies of Hampton transformation process, with a focus on community and business engagement; and

WHEREAS, as a testament to Mary Bunting's exemplary leadership, Hampton has received a number of accolades during her tenure, including an All-America City recognition from the National Civic League and various other awards; and

WHEREAS, in honor of her service and dedication, Mary Bunting was named a White House Local Innovation Champion of Change by President Barack Obama in 2012; she was also selected by her peers to serve as chair of the Hampton Roads Regional Chief Administrative Officers Committee; and

WHEREAS, through her visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to the citizens she serves, Mary Bunting has helped to make Hampton a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That Mary B. Bunting hereby be commended for her legacy of service as city manager of the City of Hampton; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Mary B. Bunting as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration for her contributions to Hampton and the Commonwealth.