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Hopewell Vice Mayor Rita Joyner's attorney argued the lawsuit should be dismissed, claiming Joyner's actions were within her rights as an elected official.

Concetta Manker alleges Joyner made disparaging remarks and opposed her initiatives based on race.

Hopewell's response mirrors Joyner's defense, stating Manker's termination was due to performance issues and not discriminatory.

Calling it “political disagreement, not actionable misconduct,” the attorney for Hopewell Vice Mayor Rita Joyner has asked a federal court to throw out former Hopewell City Manager Concetta Manker’s almost $7 million wrongful termination lawsuit against Joyner.

The paperwork was filed Aug. 8 in U.S. District Court in Richmond at the same time that the city of Hopewell filed its own motion

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