Assistant City Manager Steve Burke Appointed As City Manager In Manassas

MANASSAS, VA — At Monday's Manassas City Council meeting, a new city manager who already works for the city government was appointed.

Steve Burke, an assistant city manager for operations and director of public works, was named the new city manager, effective Feb. 3, 2025. The appointment came after a national search to replace former City Manager W. Patrick Pate, who left to become city manager of Winston-Salem, North Carolina in November 2023. Police Chief Doug Keen has been serving as interim city manager.

Burke, who was the public works director from 2016 to 2018, returned to Manassas in January 2024 after serving as town manager of Luray, Virginia. He has also been town manager of Front Royal, Virginia and has over 30 years of experience in local government in Virginia and Florida.

"I greatly appreciate the opportunity from the Mayor and the members of City Council to serve
the residents of Manassas as the City Manager," Burke said. "I look forward to working with
City Council and the outstanding members of the City staff to continue to make Manassas a
wonderful place to live, work, play, and visit."

The city government worked with public sector executive search firm Baker Tilly to find a new city manager. The search process produced no candidates after interviews last fall. During a second round, the city considered over 100 applicants. Burke was among the five final candidates the search firm presented to City Council for consideration.

As Burke's February start date approaches, one of his first tasks will be appointing a new water and sewer director, searching for a new public workers director and advancing capital projects. The city manager also typically proposes the budget in late February.

According to the city, Burke led the work to update the city's pavement management plan and start a utility cost of service and rate study. In his previous Luray role, he oversaw the town's daily operations, zoning administration, developed and managed the annual operating and capital budgets, led community outreach and coordinated the COVID-19 pandemic response. Burke has a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from the University of Florida, and is a registered professional engineer in Virginia and Florida. He and his wife, Cary, live in Manassas.

Mayor Michelle Davis-Younger and City Council members thanked Keen for filling the interim city manager role during the search. When Burke becomes city manager, Keen will return to his assistant city manager and continue serving as police chief.