Alleghany County Board of Supervisors Appoints New County Administrator

Alleghany County, Virginia

Press Release

March 16, 2022

Alleghany County Board of Supervisors Appoints a New County Administrator

The Alleghany County Board of Supervisors is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Reid Walters as its new County Administrator. Mr. Walters is currently the Town Manager of Independence, Virginia, a position that he has held since 2018. He will replace Jon Lanford, who left to be Assistant County Administrator in Botetourt County in July of last year. At its meeting on March 16th, the Board of Supervisors approved an employment agreement with Mr. Walters.

Board Chair Matt Garten said, “Although the process has taken longer than we anticipated, the Board is glad to find someone who we think will be right for the community and the County organization. We were impressed by Reid’s experience as a local government manager and in particular, his past focus on economic development, infrastructure, and regional activities. The Board looks forward to working with Reid on important County and community initiatives and to further improve the county organization and its services.”

The Board of Supervisors conducted a national search for the new County Administrator, assisted by The Berkley Group, of Bridgewater, Virginia. The Berkley Group received applications and conducted initial interviews with the most qualified candidates. It then assisted with selecting finalists for interviews with the Board. The Berkley Group also provided Interim County Administrator services during the transition.

Mr. Walters received Bachelor of Science degrees in Social Science Education and Political Science and History from Western Carolina University and a Master of Public Administration degree from Appalachian State University. He also has a Municipal and County Administration Certification from the UNC School of Government. In addition to his duties as Independence Town Manager, Mr. Walters has served as the Vice-Chair of the Virginia Carolina Water Authority which provides drinking water to a two-county service area in North Carolina and Virginia. Prior to his appointment in Independence, he served as Town Manager in the communities of Spencer and Bethel, North Carolina, and as an elected Alderman in the Town of Spencer. Mr. Walters also spent over a decade as a public educator and provided construction management for large-scale residential developments in the Raleigh, NC region earlier in his career. He is a member of the Virginia Local Government Management Association (VLGMA) and the International City/County Management Association (ICMA).

Mr. Walters shared these thoughts about his appointment, “I am honored to have this opportunity to be of service to Alleghany County. The Board of Supervisors has a great vision for this community, and I look forward to helping implement that vision. This is a special region of the Commonwealth and I believe that I can help make a positive lasting impact. I appreciate the confidence that the Board has shown in me and look forward to working for the citizens of the County and the whole Alleghany Highlands.”

Mr. Walters will assume his duties as Alleghany County Administrator on May 16, 2022.