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Town lawyer
eases into
new position
BY MARY BETH MARTIN
Rappahannock News Staff Writer
Each month for the past three months someone new has joined the Washington Town Council, and John Bennett was the smiling new face smiling at the table at the monthly meeting on Jan. 13.
Earlier he was introduced to the council and other people he will work with in the community at a pre-meeting dinner at Mayor Stew Willis’ home.
“Having dinner before (the meeting) was absolutely permitted under the Freedom of Information Act, since no town business was discussed,” Bennett said.
Council members enthusiastically welcomed him aboard.
“We are thrilled to have a man with such experience fill the position,” said Mayor Stew Willis. “All the attorneys in town recommend him.”
“John Bennett is like a breath of fresh air. He doesn’t have any cobwebs of the old agendas. He will be good for the town,” Treasurer Elaine Viguerie added.
When asked for a statement about how he felt about being the town attorney, Bennett chose his words carefully: “I want to thank each member of the council for the opportunity to serve in the position.” He repeated the same words after being introduced at the town hall.
During the town council meeting, Bennett responded quickly to a question about the Department of Motor Vehicle’s sovereignty rights, and added that he knew the department would be responsive to community recommendations.
Bennett, 49, has practiced as a lawyer in Culpeper since he arrived in 1975 and served as the Culpeper County Commonwealth’s Attorney from 1976 until 1992. He also served as the town attorney from 1984 to 1989 and as acting county attorney for nine months in 1992 and 1996.
His office is located in the Hill House in Culpeper where he said he has a general practice concentrating on business, real
See LAWYER, Page 5
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