Manassas City Council
Lori Balta has lived on Sandy Court in Manassas since 2005. For 21 years, she and her husband planned to retire right here in the city they call home. Now that dream is slipping away.
Her January electric bill hit $750 — the highest in all her years here — followed by $650 in February and March. With her husband nearing retirement and her own close behind, Balta told Manassas City Council on April 27 that the combined impact of rising property assessments, local utility rate increases, and a surprise Dominion Energy shock may force them to sell and leave.
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The Manassas City Council on Monday night unanimously approved renaming Manassas Regional Airport to Washington Manassas Airport as its commercial and ticketing name, moving forward with a rebranding effort supported by airport stakeholders but met with mixed reactions from some residents.
In a 7-0 vote, the council adopted Resolution R-2026-881. The airfield itself will continue to be known as Harry P. Davis Field, and the airport code HEF will remain unchanged. Officials estimated the cost of the name change at $100,000, to be funded entirely from the airport enterprise fund (fees collected at the airport) with no impact on the city’s general fund or taxpayers.
Helen Zurita, a longtime Manassas resident and community organizer, announced her candidacy Monday for one of three open seats on the Manassas City Council.
Zurita, who works as a community liaison for the nonprofit Creating Foundations for Hope, which supports hunger relief efforts, said her campaign focuses on practical leadership that puts working families and neighborhoods first. She emphasized protecting the city’s character while encouraging responsible growth, strengthening trust between residents and local government, and ensuring every part of the community feels heard.
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Go to Manassas Residents Rally to Save Old Bennett School as Petition Nears 750 Signatures
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The Manassas City Council paused its March 9, 2026, meeting to honor retiring City Attorney S. Craig Brown, presenting a proclamation commending his eight years of service as the city’s first in-house legal counsel.
Vice Mayor Mark D. Wolfe, the sole remaining council member from those who unanimously appointed Brown on February 20, 2018, read Resolution R-2026-743. Wolfe lightheartedly noted he “drew the short straw” for the task but affirmed the decision’s success. “We made a good choice… Life is a lot easier in Manassas than in Charlottesville,” he said, alluding to Brown’s prior role in the more contentious environment of Charlottesville.