Chester County’s CEO is off the job after about a year, as the county appoints new leadership

Chester County has appointed a new top administrator after the county’s chief executive officer left his position Monday, officials said.

David Byerman, who served as the county’s CEO for just over a year, left Monday. Erik Walschburger was immediately appointed to replace him, and will be overseeing the county’s staff and budget under the title of “county administrator” rather than CEO, a spokesperson said.

Staff were informed of the changes Monday afternoon in an email from the county’s commissioners. The message, which announced Walschburger’s appointment, didn’t mention Byerman. His staff page was removed by Monday afternoon.

The county did not give a reason for Byerman’s departure. He did not answer a phone call seeking comment.

Walschburger comes into the role having served as deputy county administrator since 2022, with more than 15 years of experience in the county. As deputy, he oversaw the internal day-to-day operations. Prior to joining the county’s administrative side, he worked in the district attorney’s office, prosecuting criminal cases, managing diversionary programs, writing grants, and defending convictions on appeal.

The email from the commissioners also said Megan Moser, the county’s chief experience officer, will continue in her role under a new title — the “deputy county administrator.” Moser joined the county last year, and has been involved with the response to multiple election errors in recent months.

The county is searching for an acting deputy county administrator for operations to replace Walschburger, the email said.

Byerman was appointed as CEO in November 2024, after years serving as the director of Kentucky’s legislative research commission and as the secretary of the state Senate in Nevada. As county CEO, Byerman oversaw the county’s more than 2,600 employees and managed the annual budget of roughly $730 million.

“We look forward to working with the entire leadership team — and all of you — to establish and sustain a culture of collaboration and mutual support as we continue to provide the highest quality services to the residents of Chester County,” the commissioners said in their email to staff.

The staff changes come as the county has made repeated missteps in recent elections, the most significant forcing more than 12,000 voters to cast provisional ballots in the November election. Residents told the commissioners last month that it had rattled their trust in county operations.