Small-Town Purcellville fighting for its life; Special Election Nov. 2

View from the Ridge

Just when you thought the fight to retain Purcellville’s small-town character couldn’t get more urgent, it does.

In a special election on Nov. 2 voters will decide whether to protect Mayor Kwasi Fraser’s agenda of lower taxes, slow growth, innovative solutions, and infrastructure improvements. Or to grow, grow, grow, which we know doesn’t pay for itself, but results in higher taxes, and Miami- style condo complexes like Vineyard Square.

Currently the Town Council is split three against three. And the Nov. 2 election will flip the majority either way.

On the one side there is candidate Erin Rayner who ran for Town Council in 2020. The fact that she is endorsed by former Mayor Bob Lazaro speaks volumes, as he is the one who had put the Town of Purcellville over $60 million in debt. His grow-the-Town policies are what has saddled the residents with that debt, traffic, and an ever-increasing need for services. 

In a June 11 interview to fill the vacated
seat on Town Council, Rayner said, when asked about Vineyard Square, “I have looked at the plans and I like what I see. It’s a nice plan …”

Fraser’s supported candidate, Sean MacDonald has pledged to support his agenda. He says he is “running on a platform of slow growth, low taxes, infrastructure improvements, and innovative solutions.” He has the strength to stand up to the daily development pressures and the problems that come with them.

Fraser and his slim Town Council majority have steadily paid down the debt, and stopped tax-sucking residential developments.

The choice is up to you

MacDonald and Rayner qualified for the Nov. ballot last month.

They were also among five candidates interviewed by the Purcellville Town Council to complete the unexpired term of Ted Greenly.  The Mayor and Town Council voted to put the choice to the voters in the special election Nov. 2.

MacDonald says: “I am running on a platform of slow growth, low taxes, infrastructure improvements, and innovative solutions.

Preserving Purcellville’s small-town momentum

It’s not a pipe-dream, preserving Purcellville as a growing but well-managed small Town.

Mayor Kwasi Fraser has been relentless in this; reducing the Town’s burdensome debt, stopping wasteful, tax-sucking developments, and perusing innovative uses of Town-owned properties.

But, he is only as successful as the votes he has on the Town Council.

Citizens and voters can protect Purcellville’s unique, small-Town features while ensuring good public services.

They can also preserve an iconic old grain mill as a restaurant hotspot (Magnolia’s at the Mill), recreate on a popular bike trail (the WO&D), and be surrounded by working farms and a farm markets.

But, in the ongoing saga about how big Purcellville should get, and what residents old and new want to preserve or tear down, there is a power struggle bubbling up again.

The bottom line: 3 to 4 or 4 to 3

 Mayor Kwasi Fraser, who enjoys overwhelming citizen support, has for years methodically reined in growth, and lowered the Town’s debt.

The old days of growing your way out of debt are gone. Innovation and persistence are key.

Should a mini–Tyson’s Corner development of tens of thousands of square feet of residential, parking, and commercial development be allowed to overwhelm historic downtown Purcellville? 

Voters have said, no.

Fraser has led the charge to enforce the voters’ will – with the help of the slimmest majority on the Town Council – reduced the enormous $60 million-plus debt he inherited, and enforced the voters’ will to adopt a more fiscally sustainable economy and tax-model.

Fraser is also an innovator, turning Town assets into cash for taxpayers.

But, the political winds in Purcellville have lashed out repeatedly at Fraser’s managed growth, fiscal responsibility, and creative-solutions agenda since the day he took office. There are millions and millions of development dollars to be made here.

The Town is always just one election – or Town Council vote away – from backtracking.