Norfolk’s top tax official steps down early. His likely replacement would be the first Black person to hold the post.

Norfolk — Norfolk’s chief tax assessor stepped down suddenly last week, nine months before the conclusion of his second term, to take a job with a Richmond-based lobbying firm.

Evans Poston, who was first elected commissioner of the revenue in 2013, said a private business opportunity came up. He would have been up for reelection this November.

“It’s been an honor to serve ... it’s just time to do something different,” Poston said Monday. His last day was March 31.

Poston said he’s now doing government consulting work with Hunton Andrews Kurth, the high-powered Richmond-based law firm known for its lobbying efforts.

Evans Poston celebrates his victory over Sharon McDonald for Commissioner of the Revenue on Tuesday, June 11, 2013 at University Pizza in Norfolk. (Dorothy Edwards)

Commissioner of the revenue is one of a handful of jobs the state Constitution requires be elected for each city and county, the others being treasurer, sheriff, court clerk and commonwealth’s attorney.

The commissioner of the revenue assesses personal property — most prominently cars — and issues business licenses, among other things. In small jurisdictions, the office also assesses real estate, but Norfolk — like other large cities — has a separate appointed real estate assessor.

[ Previous coverage: Poston wins Norfolk revenue commissioner primary ]

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According to Norfolk’s city charter, the City Council will select a new commissioner to act until the next election. That’s expected to be Poston’s chief deputy, Blythe Scott.

According to her LinkedIn page, Scott was an attorney for about 14 years before joining the commissioner’s office in late 2017. She would be Norfolk’s first Black commissioner of the revenue.

The council will talk about it for the first time Tuesday.

“He has a chief deputy and she’s already in play,” Mayor Kenny Alexander said. “It allows for the chief deputy to assume the responsibilities until the term expires.”

Alexander said it’s unlikely that the council would opt for a special election for the remainder of the term, which expires at the end of the year, because of the cost of a special election and the fact that the job will already be up for election in November.

Charlie Stanton, the chairman of the Norfolk Democratic Party and himself a deputy in the commissioner’s office, said he expected Scott to be the unchallenged Democratic nominee, which would all but guarantee her election since local Republicans don’t have plans to run anyone for the office.

Ryan Murphy, 757-739-8582, ryan.murphy@pilotonline.com