Town Manager
Interim Town Manager: January 8, 2025
On January 8, 2025, the Purcellville Town Council appointed Kwasi Fraser Interim Town Manager by a 4–3 vote — shifting from the part-time elected office he held as mayor to the full-time appointed role of Chief Administrative Officer.
On January 8, 2025, the Purcellville Town Council voted 4–3 to appoint Kwasi Fraser as Interim Town Manager of Purcellville, Virginia, succeeding Rick Bremseth in the role. The appointment marked a structural transition for Fraser: from the part-time elected position he had held as mayor from 2014 to 2022 to the full-time appointed post of Chief Administrative Officer — the executive responsible for the daily operations of every town department.
Mayor vs. Town Manager: Two Distinct Roles
Part-Time Elected
Mayor
- Presides over Town Council meetings
- Sets the legislative agenda with council
- Serves as public ceremonial representative
- Part-time, elected position
- Does not oversee day-to-day departmental operations
Full-Time Appointed CAO
Town Manager
- Responsible for all town departments daily
- Directs all department heads
- Manages day-to-day budget execution
- Oversees emergency response
- Implements policies set by Town Council
Three Stated Priorities
Mayor Chris Bertaut outlined three specific priorities for Fraser's appointment at the time it was announced — each grounded in recent town history and each directly connected to Fraser's demonstrated record.
Reduce Utility Rates
Under the prior town management, Purcellville's utility rates had increased by 16% to 18%. That trajectory stood in direct contrast to the rate discipline Fraser had exercised as mayor — holding annual increases to 0%–5% and rejecting consultants' recommendations for 9% water-rate and 9% sewer-rate hikes. Reducing these elevated rates was identified as an immediate operational priority.
Preserve Small-Town Character
Purcellville's identity as a walkable, slow-growth community had been a consistent theme of Fraser's eight mayoral years. He had voted against three annexation bids and guided the adoption of a Comprehensive Plan he described publicly as containing 'the DNA of the community.' Bertaut's identification of small-town character as a priority reflected continuity with that philosophy.
Ensure Fiscal Stability
Purcellville entered 2025 with the AAA credit ratings intact and the debt-reduction progress of the Fraser mayoral years preserved — but with utility rates elevated and operational costs requiring review. Fiscal stability was the third stated priority: the same discipline that had characterized the 2014–2022 debt restructuring strategy.
Early Actions as Town Manager
January 8, 2025
Appointed Interim Town Manager by 4–3 Town Council vote, succeeding Rick Bremseth.
January–February 2025
Conducted one-on-one operational reviews with each department head, assessing staffing, budget, and operational status of every town department.
March 19, 2025
Presented the FY2026 budget — his first budget as Town Manager — to the Town Council.
May 2025
Oversaw an Operational Review and Functional Assessment of the Purcellville Police Department — a formal evaluation of the department's structure, staffing, and operational effectiveness.
The Weight of the Appointment
When the Council appointed Fraser as Interim Town Manager on January 8, 2025, it was placing the operational weight of running Purcellville's government — all departments, all staff, all daily decisions — in the hands of someone who had spent eight years learning the town's needs from the elected side of the table. That eight-year institutional knowledge, combined with his 25-year private-sector background in project management, operations, and federal contracting, defined the profile of the appointment.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Appointment date: January 8, 2025
- Town Council vote: 4–3
- Role: Interim Town Manager — full-time, appointed Chief Administrative Officer
- Predecessor: Rick Bremseth
- Mayor at time of appointment: Chris Bertaut
- Three stated priorities: reduce utility rates (which had risen 16–18%), preserve small-town character, ensure fiscal stability
- FY2026 budget presented: March 19, 2025
- Police Department Operational Review and Functional Assessment completed: May 2025
- Prior role as Mayor was part-time elected; Town Manager is full-time appointed CAO overseeing all departments
Sources and Context
purcellvilleva.gov, CivicAlerts AID=3219 (Town Council Appoints Kwasi Fraser as Interim Town Manager); Blue Ridge Leader, “Purcellville's bold leadership shift: Fraser takes the helm as interim town manager”; Loudoun Now, Town Council coverage January 2025.
Appointment Facts