Five months after the removal of Laszlo Palko from the City Manager position, Fairfax is still searching for a permanent candidate to hold the position.
A spokesperson from the City Manager’s Office said there has been no updates on the search for a permanent City Manager.
Palko, after being in the position for almost eight months, was fired on December 10 without cause by the Fairfax City Counsel in a 4-2 vote. The reasons for his dismissal are currently unknown.
Frustration has been expressed at Palko’s dismissal, including by Kate Doyle-Feingold, who was on the Fairfax City Council when Palko was let go.
“I know many residents are upset because of the lack of cause and because Mr. Palko is already well-respected and appreciated in our city – I am also upset about the complete absence of cause and harmful effects to our city. This short-sighted action hurts our city and residents,” Feingold wrote in an op-ed published by The Fairfax Independent in December.
After Parko’s dismissal, Deputy City Manager Valmarie Turner served as Interim City Manager for a month before Bryan Foster was named the acting City Manager in January.
Foster had previously been the Deputy City Manager in Manassas before being scooped out of retirement by Fairfax. Since taking office in January, Foster has played a key role in ironing out the budget for FY26, which was approved on May 6 and will take effect on July 1.
[According to the May 29, 2025, press release issued by the City, a national search for the next City Manager has begun. The city hired Rafelis to conduct the recruitment effort and held their kickoff meeting in closed session on May 27. Raftelis provides a broad range of consulting services to government and utility clients and has a great deal of experience in local government chief executive officer recruitment. The recruitment process is anticipated to begin with the position posting in late June and conclude with the appointment of the next city manager in early fall. Bryan Foster has served as interim city manager since January when he was hired through a contract agreement with Baker Tilly Advisory Group LP, a public sector executive recruitment firm. Foster guided the city through the adoption of the FY 2026 budget and has provided steady leadership during a transitional period for the city.]
