Dean will fill remainder of White’s term through Dec. 31, 2026
By Randy Arrington
LURAY, Nov. 10 — On Monday night, the Luray Council came out of closed session to unanimously vote in favor of Stanley Police Chief Ryan “Beaver” Dean becoming the newest member of the group. Dean will be filling the remainder of Councilman Alex White’s term, which extends through Dec. 31, 2026.
“I have been living in Page County my entire life, and many of those years have been in the Town of Luray. I have had various opportunities over the years to volunteer and give back to my community, and I have enjoyed those moments in my life. I am very excited about the possibility of serving the citizens of the Town of Luray as a councilman,” Dean stated in his “Message of Intent” portion of the application for Council. “Our town is a vital part of the Page County Community, and I look forward to working with our citizens and leaders to manage our town so that our residents are safe and can prosper.”
For the past decade, Dean has served as the chief of police for the Town of Stanley. He has spent a total of 31 years in law enforcement, including 24 in a supervisory or leadership role.
“I’ve actually had an interest [in running for council] since I became chief,” Dean told PVN on Thursday, “but I didn’t have the time.”
On Nov. 27, Dean turns 50 — finally meeting one last requirement for retirement. Now, after three decades of public service in uniform, Dean says he will retire from law enforcement and step down as police chief within the next six months…”maybe as early as December.”
The 1993 graduate of Page County High School bought his first home in Luray in 1996. He has volunteered with Luray Little League in various capacities from coach to serving 15 years on the board of directors. He attended Blue Ridge Community College, as well as receiving multiple certifications and various training at law enforcement academies.
“I enjoy politics to a certain degree,” Dean told PVN this week, “but I’ve always been involved in some way in public service from Little League to law enforcement… I’ve been dealing with the public for a long time.”
The police chief will be taking his oath as a council member at the courthouse soon. Dean says he intends to pay Clerk of the Court Grayson Markowitz a visit within the week.
Former Councilman Alex White created the vacancy that Dean will fill when he submitted his resignation on Oct. 8 with a little over a year remaining in his four-year term. From that point, the Council had 45 days to fill the seat. Mayor Stephanie Lillard announced the vacancy publicly at the Council’s Oct. 15 meeting.
The Town received three applications and three interviews were held separately in closed session by Council on Oct. 28. As required, the mayor read the names of those interviewed when Council came back into open session — Andy Caviness, Ryan Dean and Catherine Speaks.
On Monday night following another closed session, the Council announced Dean as the next council member. With no work session traditionally planned for November, the group opted to finalize the decision at their regular meeting and avoid the need to call a special meeting. Dean is expected to take his seat at the December regular meeting.
Luray Council members are paid an annual total of $5,431.79 — paid proportionally every other month. The Mayor gets $9,956.96 annually.
Council members are eligible for free single coverage under Town insurance, which covers health, dental and vision under Local Choice by Virginia Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield — the state government program. The monthly value is $948.
Dean said he intends to run for a full four-year term next fall.
“I enjoy dealing with the public,” he said. “When they are upset, just let them talk and then do what you can to help them.”
His biggest challenge to joinging Council?
“Just catching up with the ongoing issues they have will probably be the biggest thing.”
For more information on the Town of Luray,
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