Valmarie Turner
  

Fairfax City has hired its first-ever deputy city manager. She is Valmarie Turner, and she brings nearly three decades of local government experience to the job. She began her new position Oct. 16 and is now working directly with City Manager Rob Stalzer on a variety of tasks critical to the smooth and efficient operation of the City.

Turner formerly worked for Loudoun County, where she’s been the assistant county administrator since 2017. In addition, she’s served since January as Loudoun’s acting director of Finance and Procurement. She holds a master’s degree in public administration with a specialization in public policy, plus a bachelor’s degree in business economics.

“With Valmarie’s hiring, the City of Fairfax continues to attract top-notch talent, and we’re very excited to have her on our team,” said Stalzer. “Her experience and unique skillset will help City staff continue to deliver projects and services that maintain the high quality of life in the City of Fairfax.”

Indeed, Turner’s expertise includes extensive, operational knowledge of matters such as affordable housing, community building and planning, economic development, social and human services, public-improvement projects, relationship building and financial management. 

She’s also the first Black woman to hold such a senior post in Fairfax City’s administration. However, said City Mayor Catherine Read, Turner earned this position because “She was a standout candidate in a field of excellent candidates.” She was found through a national search conducted in May and June by executive-recruitment firm Raftelis. Then, after Read and the City Council reviewed Turner’s credentials, Stalzer hired her.

Besides her work in Loudoun County, Turner received the Credentialed Manager designation with the International City/County Management Assn. (ICMA-CM). She’s also a certified Housing Development Finance Specialist, certified HOME Program Specialist and a certified Housing Counselor.

“She has almost 30 years of professional experience, the ability to analyze complex issues, create comprehensive recommendations for their resolution, and drive implementation across the organization,” explained Stalzer. “This new position will help employees at all levels connect their work to the larger goals and projects to advance the work of the City of Fairfax.”

When he was appointed city manager, some five years ago, Fairfax’s finance director was serving as both assistant city manager and finance director which, said Stalzer, was “ineffective and not sustainable.” His position was then converted to chief financial officer, and the assistant city manager function was intentionally not filled. 

At that time, said Stalzer, the City had many other higher-priority organizational and personnel needs, so it focused on filling them. But now that Turner has joined Fairfax, he said she’ll work with department heads and other City leaders in support of the city manager “to ensure that the mayor and city council’s priorities are strategically managed, the results are measured, and all services meet the established goals and performance standards.” 

As for Read, she said, “I’m excited to have Valmarie Turner on board. It’s always good to see women get opportunities for which they are eminently qualified – which is certainly the case here. She brings diversity to our senior-leadership team through her unique professional experiences, a fresh perspective, and a skillset that fills gaps we have around affordable housing and addressing homelessness.” 

As deputy city manager, Turner will serve as a partner and advisor to the city manager, senior-leadership team, and City staff in leading, managing, planning, organizing, directing and evaluating City operations and programs. 

On behalf of the city manager, she’ll liaison with the mayor, council, residents and City departments and will be involved in capital-budget preparation, monitoring and implementation. She’ll also coordinate and manage special projects and focused efforts such as the City’s work to meet the challenges associated with unhoused people in Fairfax. 

In addition, Stalzer said Turner will eventually provide oversight of specific departments as assigned by him, as well as help plan and administer projects and programs. Reporting directly to Stalzer, she’ll also act for the city manager in his absence.

Besides everything else, Turner has served in numerous professional associations, including ICMA, Virginia Local Government Management Assn., Virginia Women Leading Government, League of Women in Government, National Forum for Black Public Administrators, National Association of County Administrators, and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Racial Equity Workgroup.

At the start of the Oct. 24 City Council meeting, Read mentioned Turner’s hiring, saying, “She comes from a wonderful background, with a wealth of skills that will truly benefit our City.” Afterward, Read said she connected with Turner immediately. “I look forward to working with her,” she added. “Fairfax City is fortunate to have a person of her caliber join our talented and committed senior-leadership team.”