RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Dr. Danny Avula spoke for the first time after winning the election to become the next mayor of the city of Richmond. According to the Richmond General registrar’s office, Avula secured six out of nine districts to cement his win over candidates Andreas Addison, Maurice Neblett, Harrison Roday and Michelle Mosby, who won three out of nine districts. On Wednesday, Nov. 6, Avula spoke at a press conference with current Mayor Levar Stoney who said he, “cannot be prouder to have a person who has a proven record of leadership here in the city.” “I will absolutely be committed to protecting the people of Richmond and fighting for justice and equity in everything that we do as a city moving forward," Avula said. The 46-year-old pediatrician at Chippenham Hospital has been a resident of Richmond’s East End for 20 years. Avula came to the U.S. after his father, who grew up in rural India, came to the country and joined the U.S. Navy. He became the first immigrant Mayor in the city’s history. He is also the former director of the Richmond and Henrico Health Districts who led Virginia’s COVID-19 vaccination effort in 2021 and ran the state’s Department of Social Services. Avula said one of his main focuses will be addressing the affordable housing crisis in the city. “We all want to create jobs, pathways out of poverty [and] more affordable housing, while protecting the deep cultural roots and community connections that make Richmond beautiful and unique,” Avula said. “There's also coordination within City Hall that needs to happen. When a project is moving forward, planning and zoning and DPU and DPW and the fire department all must weigh in.” The Mayor-elect said he knows he still must gain the confidence of others who didn’t vote for him to prove he’s the right person to lead the city forward. He added he’ll make sure the voices of people across the city are heard, valued and incorporated into the priorities of city hall. “I think it happens through consistency and that happens with showing up and it happens through the trust building that I'll engage in starting today,” Avula said.