Mayor’s Press Secretary 

What does the Press Secretary do?  

The Press Secretary serves as the primary spokesperson for the mayor, managing communications with the media and the public. They issue media advisories and press releases from the Mayor’s office, provide mayoral statements, and hold press conferences. The Press Secretary is part of the Office of Strategic Communications (OSC) and also plays a distinct role in supporting communications for the Mayor’s office. 

The current Press Secretary is Mira Signer.  

Mira is a licensed social worker with more than 20 years of experience across nonprofit, private, and public settings in policy and communications for mental health, children’s services, and family services. She spent 13 years in the nonprofit sector, including a decade as the executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Virginia, working with grassroots leaders statewide to bring attention to mental health needs and to change laws. More recently, she served for almost a decade at the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services leading the Crisis Now, Marcus Alert, and Safe and Sound initiatives. Mira is passionate about connecting people around a shared vision and communicating complex issues in ways that inspire action. Richmond resident for 23 years with two children in RPS, Mira loves exploring the city’s trails and parks.    

Contact Mira 

Phone: 804-646-3110 
Email: [email protected]  

Requesting Mayoral Statements, Comments, and Appearances 

• If you’re a City employee who needs a mayoral statement or event appearance: Start with your Public Information Officer. They will coordinate with the Press Secretary as needed.
• If you are a reporter who needs an interview, quote, or statement from the Mayor’s office: Contact the Press Secretary directly.
• If you’d like the Mayor to attend or participate in an event: please complete the request form through the Director of Scheduling and Advance.
• If you are a resident, business, or community group with a question, request, or concern for the Mayor: Email [email protected] or call the office at 804-646-7970.
• Please note that given the volume of communication, the Mayor’s administration cannot respond to every message. If you are experiencing an emergency, you should always call 9-1-1, and you can request support with City services by calling 3-1-1- or visited rva311.org.  

Getting on the media list 

Local and regional media outlets are foundational parts of our democracy. Outlets with expert reporters and deep community knowledge make sure that residents see how their government is working and connect those operations to their daily lives. These outlets are invaluable partners as we serve the City of Richmond!  

One way the City gets timely, transparent, and accurate information in front of our communities is by sharing media alerts and press releases with media outlets. If you wish to be added to the City of Richmond’s media list, please email [email protected] to request your inclusion. Make sure to include your first and last name, media outlet, contact information, and any other relevant information.