MANASSAS PARK, Va. -- Mercury T. Payton announced Tuesday that he will be resigning his job as Manassas Park city manager when his contract expires in March.
Payton will take over Dafre Transportation, his parents Prince William-based airport shuttle service that runs out of Reagan National and Dulles International airports.
Payton’s father started the business with his wife in 1983 and they have been after their son to take over for years now.
“As time went on, Dad kept leaning on me,” the 36-year-old said. “Finally I said ‘Dad, if we’re going to do this, let’s talk.’”
So they talked and Payton decided he had reached a “pivot” point in his life and opted to make the move to take over the family business.
“My parents are at that point in their lives where they want to transition out of that and if I don’t take it over, they’re not sure what they would do with it,” said Payton, who began work with the city as deputy city manager in 2003 took over as city manager in 2005.
“The timing was just right with the contract coming up here, that I just felt like it was a good time to give it a try,” he said.
Payton said his parents plan to get him trained about as fast as they can.
“They’re going to show me the ropes fast,” he said. “They’re going to phase quickly into retirement.”
Payton has plans for the company his parents run out of their basement.
“I have a vision to make it a little more corporate and to make it a little more of a presence in the region and we’ll see what happens,” he said.
Payton, his wife and five children will continue to live in Manassas Park, he said.
Senior reporter Keith Walker can be reached at 703-369-6751.
Payton said he gave several months notice to give the Manassas Park City Council time to look for a replacement.
“My thought is that there’s a lot of work still to be done and the governing body can take the time to look for someone to fill this role over the next couple of months,” he said.
Senior reporter Keith Walker can be reached at 703-369-6751.
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