Purcellville, VA – An ongoing discussion regarding House Bill 505 (HB 505) has emerged following Virginia Delegate John McAuliff’s introduction of the bill, currently in committee. The legislation seeks to prohibit members of local governing bodies from holding other employment within their locality and would declare their office vacant if they do so. Additionally, it prohibits officials from voting on matters related to their previous employment for a year after leaving those positions.
Introduced by John Chilton McAuliff:
“Counties, cities, and towns; dual office holding; members of governing body not to hold certain employment. Prohibits a member of a governing body of a locality from holding any other position of employment with such locality and provides that if any member of a governing body of a locality begins or continues in another position of employment with such locality on or after the day on which his term begins, his office is deemed vacant. The bill also provides that no member of a governing body of a locality may take any vote on any subject related to his former employment with such locality within one year of terminating such employment.”
On January 20, 2026, Vice Mayor Carl “Ben” Nett sent an email to residents and business owners of Purcellville, raising concerns about HB 505. In his communication, Nett suggested that the bill was part of a broader agenda orchestrated by Town Council member Erin Rayner, who is also a candidate for Mayor. He accused Rayner of promoting a campaign of “organized chaos” to undermine the recent election results in Purcellville and facilitate annexation and development in the area.
In his letter, Nett expressed that if enacted, the legislation would disenfranchise “hundreds of thousands of Virginians” by overturning existing state law and limiting participation in local governance. Nett emphasized that the language for HB 505 was first circulated by Rayner, further exacerbating his allegations against her.
In response to Nett’s assertions, Delegate McAuliff emphasized that all residents are welcome to testify regarding the bill. He clarified that he has not discussed the bill with any current or former council members and reiterated his commitment to ensuring clarity in state law regarding the responsibilities of elected officials. McAuliff noted that the bill is intended to provide guidance for future candidates and would not affect current officials, as it would not take effect until July 2027, following the one-year cooling-off period. He added, “Purcellville is the heart of my district, and I welcome the chance to meet and work with anyone who lives there and loves the community there. I also welcome anyone with ideas to improve my bills. Everyone I’ve spoken with about HB 505 agrees that clearer rules on conflicts of interest benefit everyone in Purcellville and across Virginia, so I look forward to passing it this general assembly alongside other great bills like Oak Hill (HB500) and a study of our troubling groundwater issues (HB501).”
In light of the ongoing discourse, Town Council Member Erin Rayner issued a statement: “To be clear, I did not discuss this proposed legislation with Del. McAuliff or his staff before it was published. I am flattered to be thought powerful enough to coerce three law enforcement agencies, two commonwealth attorneys, both our state legislators, and our attorney general to violate the law. These outlandish and false claims are nothing but an attempt to confuse the public and avoid accountability. The tired narrative that every disagreement stems from a desire to turn Purcellville into a ‘Western Loudoun metropolis’ is nothing but an attempt to deceive, distract, and mislead the public. I remain focused on facts, transparent governance, and serving Purcellville with integrity.”
Purcellville News will provide ongoing coverage on this matter as it develops, keeping the community informed of any updates related to HB 505 and the implications for local governance.