Town of Purcellville Candidate’s Corner

On June 29, Mayor Chris Bertaut announced his campaign for re-election, pledging to continue fighting for responsible growth, fiscal stewardship, more efficient and accountable government, and the preservation of the small-town character that makes Purcellville unique.

Bertaut, a Purcellville resident for more than two decades, said he is seeking another term because he believes the town stands at a crossroads, with decisions being made today that will determine Purcellville’s future for generations.

“Over the past several years, I have worked to keep the promises I made,” Bertaut said. “I said I would stand up for responsible growth, protect taxpayers, preserve our small-town character, and follow the vision residents established through the Comprehensive Plan. That is exactly what I have done.”

He supported the Town’s updated Zoning Ordinance following years of public input, voted to remove the Northern Collector Road from the Townwide Transportation Plan, and opposed annexation proposals he believed would fundamentally alter the character of the community.

“Purcellville is constantly facing pressure to grow beyond what residents envisioned,” Bertaut said. “My position has remained consistent: growth must respect the Comprehensive Plan, protect taxpayers, and preserve the qualities that make Purcellville special.”

Pointing to the proposed Valley Commerce Center annexation, Bertaut said it illustrates the difficult decisions facing town leaders.

“Growth is never free,” Bertaut said. “Every annexation and major development proposal creates new demands on roads, utilities, public safety, infrastructure, traffic, and town services. Those costs do not disappear. They are ultimately borne by taxpayers.”

“My responsibility is to represent the interests of Purcellville’s residents first, not outside interests seeking to reshape our community for their own ends.”

“The decisions we make over the next two years will shape Purcellville for decades. Choices about growth, infrastructure, fiscal responsibility, and the character of our community cannot easily be undone. We can protect what makes Purcellville special while preparing responsibly for the future. We don’t want to Ashburn Purcellville. We want Purcellville to remain Purcellville.”

Bertaut said one of the greatest challenges facing the town is the increasingly divisive tone that has emerged in local politics.

“In the past year and a half, residents have witnessed lawsuits, personal attacks, political hostility, and behavior that has too often distracted from the important work of governing,” Bertaut said.

“Public meetings should be places where neighbors respectfully exchange ideas, even when they disagree. They should not become forums for intimidation, unfounded accusations, or attempts to divide our community.”

Bertaut said he believes people want local government focused on serving the public.

“I have always believed that reasonable people can disagree without becoming enemies,” he said. “Purcellville is a community, not a battlefield. Residents deserve leaders who listen, treat people with respect, and focus on solving problems rather than creating distractions.”

Bertaut said his campaign is built on a simple principle: keeping Purcellville, Purcellville.

His priorities include protecting taxpayers, preserving the town’s identity, making government more efficient and accountable, supporting local businesses, investing in critical infrastructure, and ensuring future growth reflects the values and vision of the community.

“I love our town,” Bertaut said. “My family built our lives here. I have spent years serving this community because I care deeply about its future. This election is about whether Purcellville remains the town we know and love, defined by its character, history, and sense of community.”

“Purcellville is worth protecting,” Bertaut said. “I am asking voters for the opportunity to continue that work.”

Greg Paris has announced that he is seeking a seat on the Purcellville Town Council, citing concerns about increasing development pressure, infrastructure demands, and the need to preserve the small-town character that makes Purcellville unique.

Paris said he is running because he believes the decisions being made today will shape the future of Purcellville for generations.

“Like many residents, I chose Purcellville because it is different,” Paris said. “It has a strong sense of community, a historic downtown, beautiful open spaces, and neighborhoods where families know their neighbors. Those qualities are worth protecting.”

Originally from Hershey, Pennsylvania, Paris grew up in a small town where children spent their days riding bicycles through the neighborhood, playing pickup games with friends, and enjoying a close-knit community atmosphere.

One of his earliest lessons about local government came when residents organized to oppose a large residential development planned for one of the community’s largest farms.

“I remember watching neighbors come together to protect the character of our town,” Paris said. 

“They attended meetings, organized petitions, challenged decisions, and refused to give up. In the end, the land was permanently preserved. More than 35 years later, it remains open space. That experience taught me that citizens can make a difference when they are willing to stand up for their community.”

Paris said he sees similar challenges facing Purcellville today.

“Development pressure is coming from every direction,” he said. “Residents are being asked to accept more density, more traffic, greater demands on infrastructure, and increased pressure on limited resources. We need leaders who are willing to ask tough questions and make sure growth serves the community instead of changing the community to serve growth.”

Professionally, Paris has worked in technical communications, government contracting, and business development, helping organizations solve complex problems, manage competing priorities, and build long-term strategies.

He believes those experiences, combined with a practical approach, would serve residents well on Town Council.

“As a father, I want my children to grow up in a community where they can safely ride their bikes, know their neighbors, and enjoy the same small-town experience that shaped my childhood,” Paris said. “Once a town loses its character, it is impossible to get it back.”

Paris said he supports policies that respect the Town’s Comprehensive Plan, protect taxpayers, preserve existing neighborhoods, and ensure infrastructure and public services are planned responsibly.

“Growth should be guided by the needs of residents, not by outside pressures or short-term interests,” Paris said. “The people who live here should have the strongest voice in determining Purcellville’s future.”

Paris and his wife have made Purcellville their home and are raising their two children in the community. He is active in his church and enjoys reading and volunteering.

“I am not running because I am seeking a political career,” Paris said. “I am running because I care deeply about this town and want to help preserve the qualities that brought my family here. I would be honored to serve, and I believe Purcellville is worth protecting.”

Hank Speckhardt today announced his candidacy for Purcellville Town Council, saying he hopes to help preserve the town’s small-town character, strengthen fiscal responsibility, and ensure residents guide decisions shaping the community’s future.

Speckhardt grew up in a small town in upstate New York and spent more than two decades in the insurance industry, ultimately owning and operating his own agency. After selling that business and another company he founded, he describes himself as a semi-retired entrepreneur seeking to apply his experience in service to the community he now calls home.

He moved to Purcellville to be closer to his mother, a longtime resident, following the passing of his father, and said he quickly developed a strong appreciation for the town’s close-knit atmosphere, history, and quality of life.

“I came to Purcellville because it feels like a real community,” Speckhardt said. “It has a character and quality of life that is increasingly rare, and I believe it is something worth protecting, not replacing.”

Speckhardt said one of the most pressing issues facing the town is the continued pressure for annexation and large-scale development proposals that he believes could significantly alter Purcellville’s character while moving the town away from the vision many residents value.

“Some of the proposals being discussed would fundamentally change the nature of this town and the reasons people chose to live here,” Speckhardt said. “These decisions need to reflect the long-term interests of the residents who live here and will live with the consequences.”

He said residents deserve careful, independent decision-making when it comes to land use, infrastructure, and growth, rather than one-size-fits-all policies imposed from outside the community.

“These are not abstract policy discussions,” he said. “They affect traffic, water supply, public safety, taxes, and the overall quality of life in our community.”

Drawing on his background as a business owner and entrepreneur, Speckhardt said he brings a practical, common-sense approach to problem-solving and financial decision-making.

“I am not a career politician,” he said. “I am someone who understands how to evaluate risk, manage resources, and make decisions based on long-term consequences rather than short-term promises.”

Speckhardt said he supports policies that respect the Town’s Comprehensive Plan, protect taxpayers, preserve existing neighborhoods, and preserve the qualities that define Purcellville’s character and quality of life.

“I will work to ensure that residents remain at the center of every major decision,” he said. “This town belongs to the people who live here, and its future should reflect their voice and their vision—not someone else’s.”

For most of my life, I have watched Purcellville grow and change. Some things have changed for the better. Others have reminded us how important it is to protect the character and values that have made this community such a special place to call home.

My family’s roots in the Loudoun Valley go back to the 1760s, when Quaker families, including my ancestors, settled here to farm the fertile land of western Loudoun County. The land has always been an important part of my life and has shaped my belief in stewardship, hard work, self-reliance, and responsibility to future generations.

I graduated from Loudoun Valley High School in 1966 and later earned a degree from Guilford College in North Carolina. After spending nearly a decade working in apple and cherry orchards in Michigan, I returned home to Purcellville to continue farming. Encouraged by my father, I began growing blackberries and eventually expanded into apples, peaches, vegetables, pumpkins, strawberries, and Christmas trees.

My wife, Uta, shares my love of agriculture and conservation. Together, we have dedicated our lives to preserving our farm and the rural heritage that defines this part of Loudoun County.

Years ago, approximately 40 acres of our property were zoned for hundreds of townhouses. Instead of pursuing development, I chose to place the entire 90-acre farm into conservation easement. I did so because I believe there are some things more important than maximizing development potential. Once open land is lost, it is gone forever.

The issues facing Purcellville today are not very different from those we faced years ago. The pressure to expand, increase density, and grow beyond the vision residents established for our community remains constant. That is why I am running for Town Council.

I am not a politician. I am a farmer, a businessman, a husband, a neighbor, and a lifelong resident who cares deeply about the future of our town.

Residents can count on me to support policies that respect Purcellville’s Comprehensive Plan, protect property owners and taxpayers, preserve our small-town character, maintain fiscal responsibility, and ensure growth occurs only when it serves the interests of the community.

I have participated in the Town’s long-range planning efforts and understand the importance of following the vision residents spent years creating. That vision should guide decisions as new development proposals come forward.

Purcellville is more than the place where I live. It is the place that has shaped my family for more than 250 years. I am running because I believe future generations deserve the same opportunity to grow up in a town that values its history, its farms, its neighborhoods, and the people who call it home. I would be honored to earn your support and your vote.