Former Manassas Park City Manager Lands Gig in Vienna

Mercury T. Payton, the former City Manager of Manassas Park, Va., has been chosen as the Town of Vienna's new town manager.

He will be formally appointed by Mayor Jane Seeman and the Vienna Town Council at their meeting Monday night.

Payton to replace former town manager  John Schoeberlein, . Payton will begin his duties as town manager on May 10 with a two-year contract that includes a base salary of $160,000 per year.

Payton, 37, has held a range of municipal government positions in Manassas and Emporia, Va, during the last 15 years. Before he was city manager for Manassas Park,he served as the city's deputy manager and also as the assistant city manager for the City of Emporia.

What attracted Seeman and other council members to Payton as a top choice was his experience with other municipalities, like Vienna, she said in a statement.

“Mr. Payton’s outstanding qualifications, professionalism and leadership experience in municipal government really helped him stand out from among the applicants," she said. "I was impressed by his enthusiasm and his desire to fulfill this leadership role with the Town of Vienna."

Payton also has a masters degree in public administration with an emphasis in local government and community development from the University of Delaware, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Hampton University.

The father of five will move to Vienna with his wife, Andrea, and their children, Amar, Avery, Marielle, Macy and Marissa, on July 1, the Town says.

"I am honored to have an opportunity to contribute here with Vienna's local government management team.  Working in this National Capital Region in a community of similar size over the last seven years gives me an immediate comfort level with the scope of this significant responsibility," he said. " My family is drawn to Vienna's small town atmosphere and we look forward to making Vienna our home."