Greg Paris

A Slow Growth Candidate for Purcellville Town Council

I Pledge to Protect Purcellville

I am running for Purcellville Town Council because I believe the decisions we make today will shape the future of our town for generations.

Like many residents, I chose Purcellville because it is different. 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.

I grew up in Hershey, Pennsylvania, where children spent their days riding bicycles through the neighborhood, playing pickup games with friends, and enjoying the close-knit atmosphere that comes with living in a small town.

One of my earliest lessons about local government came when residents organized to oppose a large residential development planned for one of our community’s largest farms. I remember watching neighbors come together to protect the character of our town. 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.

Today, I see many of those same challenges facing Purcellville.

Development pressure is coming from every direction. 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.

Throughout my career in technical communications, government contracting, and business development, I have helped organizations solve complex problems, manage competing priorities, and build long-term strategies. I believe those experiences, combined with a practical, thoughtful approach, will allow me to serve the residents of Purcellville well.

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. Once a town loses its character, it is impossible to get it back.

I support 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. The people who live here should have the strongest voice in determining Purcellville’s future.

My wife and I have made Purcellville our home, and we are proud to be raising our two children here. We are active in our church, and I enjoy reading, volunteering, and being involved in our community.

I am not running because I am seeking a political career. I am running because I care deeply about this town and want to help preserve the qualities that brought my family here.

Purcellville is worth protecting, and I would be honored to earn your vote and the opportunity to serve on the Town Council.

Read Greg Paris’s interview in the Blue Ridge Leader:

Greg Paris grew up in the small town of Hershey, Pennsylvania, where riding bikes through the neighborhood, pickup games with friends and knowing your neighbors shaped his appreciation for close-knit communities.

Paris later built a career in technical communications, government contracting and business development, experience that has taught him how to solve complex problems and balance competing priorities.

He and his wife are raising their two children in Purcellville, where he is active in his church and enjoys reading and volunteering. Paris says he hopes to help preserve the small-town character and sense of community that drew his family to Purcellville.

Blue Ridge Leader: What are your three top priorities for the Town of Purcellville?

Greg Paris: My three priorities are protecting Purcellville’s future, strengthening the Town’s financial position, and making local government continue to work better for our community.

First, I want to preserve the qualities that make Purcellville a special place to live. Growth and development decisions made today will shape this town for decades. I will support our Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance, oppose unnecessary annexations and inappropriate increases in density, and ensure residents have a meaningful voice in major land-use decisions. Economic development should complement our community—not redefine it.

Second, I will bring a strong taxpayer focus to every financial decision. Town government must distinguish between what we need and what we would like to have. Before asking residents or businesses for more, we should examine spending, staffing, contracts and operations to ensure resources are used wisely. We must also address utility and infrastructure needs responsibly while protecting affordability.

Third, I want Town government to be professional, efficient and focused on results. Residents should expect clear processes, timely answers and consistent treatment. Town staff should do their jobs without being pulled into political disputes, while elected officials focus on policy, oversight and serving the public.

Purcellville needs disciplined government, thoughtful leadership and elected officials who serve the entire community. I want to preserve what generations of residents have built here while making responsible decisions that leave Purcellville stronger for our children and the generations that follow.

BRL: Under what circumstances would you support annexing land into the Town of Purcellville?

GP: I would support annexation only when there is a compelling public benefit to Purcellville residents and the long-term financial and community consequences are understood and responsibly addressed.

Annexation should never be viewed as a way to generate one-time revenue or facilitate additional development. Connection fees are one time payments, while the obligations created by growth can remain with taxpayers and utility customers for decades. Roads, water and wastewater infrastructure, public safety and other Town services carry continuing costs.

But finances are only part of the equation. Annexation can permanently change the character, density and physical footprint of Purcellville. Once development occurs, we cannot simply restore the town we had before.

Before considering annexation, I would ask: What lasting benefit does it provide residents? What will it cost long term? Do we have the infrastructure and utility capacity to support it? Is it consistent with our Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance? Will it preserve our small-town character?

If those questions cannot be answered convincingly, I would vote no.

There may be exceptional circumstances where annexation serves a genuine community need, such as land for a park, provided costs are responsibly addressed and taxpayers and utility customers are protected.

Purcellville does not need to grow outward to succeed. Our responsibility is to protect and strengthen the town we already have.

BRL: How important is the Town’s Zoning Ordinance, and are there changes you would like to see?

GP: The Zoning Ordinance is fundamental to protecting Purcellville’s future because it puts our Comprehensive Plan into practice and establishes the rules that guide how our town develops.

I learned early that land-use decisions can shape a community for generations. Growing up in Hershey, Pennsylvania, I watched residents oppose a large residential development proposed for one of our community’s largest farms. More than 35 years later, that property remains open space.

I see the same responsibility here in Purcellville. Residents spent years participating in our Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance processes. Those rules should provide predictability for homeowners, businesses and property owners, so people understand what may be built around them.

I support appropriate development and redevelopment within our existing zoning and correcting provisions that are unclear, outdated or have unintended consequences. But there is a difference between improving the ordinance for the entire town and changing it to accommodate an individual development proposal.

One increase in density may seem insignificant, but repeated across Purcellville, such decisions can bring more traffic, greater demands on infrastructure and utilities, and ultimately a different town.

As a father raising two children, I think about what Purcellville will look like 20 years from now. Our zoning should reflect the community’s vision, not be continually changed to accommodate requests for greater density.

Once we change Purcellville’s character, we cannot simply change it back. I intend to protect what brought families like mine here in the first place.

BRL: Do you believe the Town has made sufficient investments in utility infrastructure over the past several years? What improvements would you prioritize moving forward?

GP: Purcellville has made important investments in its water and wastewater systems, and we are continuing the long-term work of maintaining and strengthening this essential infrastructure.

The Town’s new water tower, now nearing completion, will increase storage capacity, improve water pressure and strengthen system reliability.

We should prioritize projects based on condition, risk and need, replace aging infrastructure strategically, improve efficiency and aggressively pursue grants and outside funding before asking utility customers to pay more.

As a Council member, I will ask tough questions, insist on sound data and ensure our utility investments protect these essential systems and the people who pay for them.

Additional development creates additional demands on water, wastewater and other Town services. We should not expand infrastructure simply to enable greater density and then ask residents to pay for the consequences. Growth must fit the capacity and character of our community, not the other way around.

BRL: Residents and businesses collectively pay more than $18 million annually in real estate taxes to Loudoun County. Do you believe the town is receiving an adequate return on that investment?

GP: Purcellville residents and businesses contribute more than $18 million annually in Loudoun County taxes and, in return, benefit from County schools, public safety, libraries, parks and other services.

At the same time, Purcellville hosts five County public schools and other facilities that rely in part on Town infrastructure. Where those responsibilities intersect, we should pursue opportunities to coordinate investments that serve both the Town and County.

Water and wastewater infrastructure, stormwater management, transportation and environmental protection are areas where our interests overlap and where we should build a strong case for County investment.

Purcellville’s success contributes to the strength of western Loudoun. As a Council member, I will foster a constructive partnership with the County while making sure Purcellville has a strong voice in decisions that affect our residents and our future.

Our residents contribute substantially to Loudoun County. I want us to be equally effective at bringing resources and investment back to the community, particularly where partnerships can help offset infrastructure costs that would otherwise fall on Purcellville residents and utility customers.

BRL: How would you assess Purcellville’s long-term financial outlook?

GP: Purcellville’s long-term financial strength requires thoughtful planning and sound decisions. We have valuable assets, important investments underway in our water and wastewater systems, and opportunities to make Town government even more efficient.

My professional experience has taught me to understand a problem before committing to a solution. What do we truly need? When do we need it? What can be done more efficiently? What outside funding is available before asking residents and businesses to pay more?

We should carefully evaluate capital projects, control operating costs, pursue grants and low-interest financing, and ensure taxpayers receive value from every dollar spent. Higher taxes and utility rates should not be our first response to financial pressure.

Purcellville can benefit from thoughtful redevelopment within our town, consistent with our zoning. Expanding our borders is not a financial strategy; new revenue comes with long-term costs for infrastructure and services, and can erode the small-town character we value.

With disciplined spending, sound capital planning and responsible growth, we can protect taxpayers while preserving the Purcellville we value for our families and those who will call it home tomorrow.

BRL: How would you encourage economic development?

GP: Economic development should build on Purcellville’s strengths—a strong community, a diverse mix of successful businesses, a historic downtown and a quality of life that makes people want to live, visit and invest here. Our low commercial vacancy rate shows that businesses see value in being here.

My experience in business development has taught me that businesses value predictability, responsiveness and clear rules. Town government should provide timely answers, remove unnecessary administrative obstacles and apply our standards fairly and consistently.

I want businesses of all sizes to succeed here—from locally owned shops and restaurants to supermarkets, professional services and national businesses. A healthy local economy depends on a diverse commercial base.

Our community events are fun. They bring people together, welcome visitors and give them another reason to discover Purcellville and our businesses.

Purcellville does not need to become bigger to become stronger. We should build on what makes this town special and create an environment where businesses can start, invest, grow and stay.