James Knighton
Assistant Town Manager Bio
The Town of Tappahannock hired James Knighton as the new Assistant Town Manager, in June 2024. He will be supporting Town Manager Eric S. Pollitt. In this role, James will oversee ongoing town development projects and serves as the Zoning Administrator. James brings a wealth of experience, having previously served as the Director of Planning and Zoning Administrator for Mathews County, Virginia. With seven years in the planning and zoning field, he holds a Certified Zoning Administrator credential from the Virginia Association of Zoning Officials. During his tenure in Mathews, James led updates to the county’s zoning ordinance and helped secure funding for crucial transportation projects through VDOT, bringing them to successful completion.
James is a James Madison University alumnus with a Bachelor of Science in Geography, focusing on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and environmental conservation. A native of Virginia’s Northern Neck, he currently lives on the Middle Peninsula in Middlesex County with his family.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ASSISTANT TOWN MANAGER
James is currently leading several major initiatives for Tappahannock, including:
Guiding updates to the town’s zoning and code sections.
Assisting with the development of Hoskins Creek Park.
Leading the design and engineering for the redevelopment of the old airport into a 100+ acre industrial park, including identifying funding sources for construction.
Completing the Preliminary Engineering Report for Phase 2 of the Downtown Sewer Infrastructure Rehab Project, securing grant and loan funding, and managing project construction.
Acting as the primary contact for US DOT RAISE grant.