Former reporter hired as town PIO
By Staff
The Town of Culpeper named former Culpeper Times reporter Wally Bunker, 60, to fill the new part-time position of public information officer.
Bunker was selected by Interim Town Manager Tom Huggard from a field of 35 applicants.
A retired police lieutenant from southeast Virginia, Bunker worked as the senior staff writer for about seven years at both the Culpeper Star-Exponent and Times, formally known as the Culpeper Citizen. He was the town government reporter when he left the Times in August 2006. He has also covered county government and law enforcement.
“He possesses unique knowledge of the town and the various issues facing the town,” said Huggard.
Bunker, who has lived in the Culpeper area since 1998, resides in town.
“I look forward to serving the town and its citizens,” he said.
The town council voted last month to create the public information officer’s position utilizing funds from vacant positions. The town council felt the need to provide timely and factual information to town citizens on a number of important issues.
The part-time position is limited to a maximum of 30 hours per week and pays $30 per hour with no employee benefits.