At the April 29 special meeting, the Louisa Town Council appointed Graven Craig as the newest council member, replacing the seat vacated by Daniel Crawford who submitted his resignation letter in March. Craig will serve the remainder of Crawford’s term which runs through 2028.

In an interest letter to Louisa Town Manager Stuart Turille, Craig stated his “deep roots” and “longstanding commitment” to the town’s growth and well-being make him suited to fill the vacant seat.

Craig has been practicing law in the Town of Louisa since August 1997 and in October, 1999 he established his own law practice. Currently, he’s a partner in the Craig Williams law firm on Main Street.

Craig cited his nearly three decades of professional practice and family life in Louisa, where he has “proudly raised” three children in the community. He also cited his ties as a member of St. James Episcopal Church where he serves on the Linkages Board, the organization that conducted the original fundraising for the Louisa Intergenerational Center at the Louisa Air Park.

“If appointed to the Council, I would bring to the position a strong commitment to ensuring that the Town of Louisa remains welcoming to both businesses and families. I am dedicated to poli- cies and initiatives that foster economic vitality, community cohesion, and a high quality of life for all of our residents. I am eager to work collaboratively with my fellow Council members and Town staff to help Louisa thrive now and into the future,” Craig wrote.

Two letters from citizens were submitted to the council before the meeting, one in support of Craig’s appointment and one against.

Rick Meyer, the president of the Tanyard Property Owners Association (POA), stated in his letter that the POA has been trying to prevent duplexes being built in the neighborhood and that there may be a conflict of interest if Craig is appointed.

In January of last year, the Louisa Town Council held a controversial public hearing on a special use permit (SUP) application to construct two duplexes in the Tanyard subdivision. Multiple residents of the Tanyard subdivision voiced their disapproval of the project, citing that duplexes would be out of character for the neighborhood in contrast to single-family homes. Torrey Williams (a law partner with Craig) submitted the SUP as the agent for the owners; ultimately, the council voted to deny the application, prompting a current lawsuit with Williams suing the town.

“My fear is [Craig] will not be impartial in cases where the citizens of the town have an objection to any new encroachment on their neighborhoods or businesses. He has had no concerns or involvement in the past about the flooding issues, the sewer issues, traffic issues that we have had in our neighborhood,” Meyer wrote.

Meyer stated that Craig attended a POA meeting and that Craig would “like to see the suit prevail” and that he spearheaded the opposition to an amendment to Tanyard covenants that would prohibit duplexes.

During the public meeting, Craig responded to the letter after a question from council member Roger Henry about the alleged conflict of interest.

“I don’t have a conflict of interest in that particular matter because I have nothing to do with it other than that my law firm represents the parties who own the lots,” Craig said.

Craig stated that it was not a fair characterization that he spoke in favor of Williams’ side of the lawsuit, but that he told the POA the town council was likely to lose the demurrer. Craig said he cited existing case law regarding restrictive covenants established after a development is allowed, specifically referring to the fact that duplexes already exist in Tanyard.

“He commented that I swayed some votes, and I’m glad I did because I’m trying to save the [POA] from litigation,” Craig said. “I think that’s the one thing I bring to the council.”

In a letter of recommendation to Craig’s appointment, Tanyard resident Diane McCourt shared that she met Craig at a recent POA meeting where discussion about neighborhood guidelines became tense.

“What stood out to me was his ability to remain calm, thoughtful, and grounded in his approach. He consistently spoke in a rational and respectful manner, with a clear focus on finding common ground rather than escalating disagreement. In fact, he proactively offered to help form a collaborative group to bring different perspectives together and deescalate the situation; an approach that reflects the kind of leadership and temperament I believe is essential for public service,” McCourt wrote.

McCourt stated that Craig’s background in law “further reinforces my confidence in his ability to approach decisions with fairness, logic and a strong understanding of guidelines and process,” and that he would bring a “measured, collaborative, and rational perspective to the town council.”

The council voted 3-1 to appoint Craig to the council. Council member Vicky Harte was the lone opposing vote.

At the end of the special meeting, council member John J. Purcell IV announced that he would be resigning his seat effective April 30, citing in his resignation letter that he will soon be living outside the town limits.

“During my two terms, I have been grateful for the opportunity to contribute to several important initiatives. I am particularly proud of the progress made toward strengthening the financial stability of the Town’s utility funds and advancing the continued improvement of both the water and sewer systems. Through engineered assessments and long-range planning, we have laid the groundwork for ongoing modernization of critical infrastructure, and I remain hopeful that these efforts will support the long-term health, resilience, and well-being of the community” Purcell wrote.

The council set a May 8 deadline for interested applicants to submit a cover letter and resume to fill Purcell’s seat that expires at the end of the year.