Bristol City Manager Randall Eads departing for job in Attorney General’s office

Bristol Virginia City Manager and City Attorney Randall Eads will be leaving those positions effective January 19th after accepting the position of general counsel for Attorney General-elect Jay Jones’ office in Richmond.

Eads’ legacy in Bristol will be his role in seeking repairs to ward off state fines due to problems at the city landfill as well as putting the owners of the former Virginia Intermont College campus on notice for repairs and upkeep after a 2024 fire that gutted one of its historic buildings.

“Randy Eads leaving the City of Bristol, Virginia, is a tremendous loss,” said Councilwoman Becky Nave.
“He has done so much for our community, often behind the scenes, and I don’t think many people realize just how fortunate we’ve been to have his leadership and dedication. While this is clearly an opportunity he couldn’t pass up, it’s hard not to feel the impact of his absence. Bristol is better because of Randy, and he will be greatly missed.”

Here is the information posted by Jones’ office about Eads:

Randall C. Eads is an accomplished attorney and executive leader with extensive experience in public service, government law, criminal law, and complex legal and policy matters. He has served as City Manager and City Attorney for the City of Bristol, Virginia, since 2017, where he has advised elected officials, managed multidisciplinary teams, and provided strategic counsel on issues affecting local government with statewide impact. Mr. Eads’ professional background spans constitutional and administrative law, economic development, public finance, land use, regulatory compliance, and litigation strategy. He has played a central role in negotiating major public-private partnerships, overseeing large-scale infrastructure and redevelopment initiatives, and guiding governmental entities through high-profile legal and policy challenges. His work frequently involved coordination with state Cabinet members, state agencies, legislators, regulators, and private stakeholders. Throughout his career, Mr. Eads has been recognized for his leadership within the legal community. In 2025, he was honored as a Leader in the Law by Virginia Lawyers Weekly, an award that celebrates attorneys whose accomplishments include outstanding contributions to the practice of law and leadership within Virginia’s legal community. Mr. Eads earned his Juris Doctor from Mississippi College School of Law and holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in History from the Virginia Military Institute and in Economics from the University of Tennessee. He is admitted to practice law in Virginia, Tennessee, and Mississippi.

(IMAGE: Property of City of Bristol, Virginia / Official website)