Member Profile

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City Manager Ken Larking began work for the City of Danville in March 2013 as Deputy City Manager. In December 2015, he served as interim City Manager until April 5, 2016, at which time he was appointed City Manager. He began his local government career as the Budget and Performance Manager for the City of Hickory, North Carolina, from April 1999 to January 2003 before serving as Town Manager of Yadkinville, North Carolina, from January 2003 to February 2010. He subsequently served as Assistant County Manager of Moore County, North Carolina, from February 2010 to March 2013. Mr. Larking received his B.A. and M.P.A. from Appalachian State University in 1995 and 1999, respectively. The City of Danville, Virginia is an "independent city," offering both county and municipal services, as it is not located within a County. The City, which operates under the Council-Manager form of government, provides all typically standard local government services and operates five utilities: water, wastewater, gas, electric, and open-access broadband. The City's Fiscal Year 2024 adopted budget is about $325 million. There are over 1,000 authorized full-time positions. Mr. Larking was born in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada and spent his childhood in Alberta, New Jersey, Texas, Arizona, and North Carolina, where he graduated from High School. Mr. Larking serves as Treasurer for Virginia First Cities, is a member of the International City/County Manager's Association, and the Virginia Local Government Management Association. In July 2022, he was awarded a certificate of completion for the Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.