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Before a nepotism scandal prompted her firing, Richmond’s chief administrative officer, Selena Cuffee-Glenn, led Mayor Levar Stoney’s administration through 18 months of negotiations over the $1.5 billion plan to redevelop downtown around a new Coliseum.

On the other side of the table were officials from NH District Corp., the would-be developer for the project with a governing board that includes Cuffee-Glenn’s nephew, Carlos M. Brown, head of Dominion Energy’s legal department.

Stoney knew his top administrator and Brown — secretary of the NH Foundation board — were related, but said in an interview this past week he did not view it as a conflict of interest.

“The agreement that was negotiated by the city and NH District Corp. featured several attorneys, dozens of experts and analysts,” he said. “I think the agreement will stand on its own merit, and I welcome the scrutiny, not only from the City Council, but from the people of this great city.”

The comments came amid fallout over Stoney’s handling of the nepotism scandal that has rocked his administration as he is seeking to shepherd what could be the biggest economic development deal in Richmond history through the City Council review process.