Authorities said the attack was rooted in a personal dispute, not politics.
Lee Vogler, 38, who has served on the Danville City Council for more than a decade, was taken by medical helicopter to a burn unit in North Carolina after the attack on Wednesday.
Police said the assailant, Shotsie Michael Buck Hayes, 29, forced his way into Vogler's office at Showcase Magazine, confronted him, then chased him outside and set him ablaze.
Hayes was arrested at the scene on charges of attempted first-degree murder and aggravated malicious wounding.
Investigators stressed the motive appeared personal and unrelated to Vogler's work as a public official. Still, the assault added to growing unease over violence and harassment aimed at elected officials across the country, particularly as the boundaries blur between their public roles and private lives.
"There is no justification for lashing out," said Andrew Scott Brooks, publisher of the magazine.
"This type of act of senseless violence needs to stop."
Two employees were in the building when the attack occurred, Brooks said. According to police and witnesses, Vogler ran through the office yelling for help after being doused in petrol. A colleague called for help as Hayes chased Vogler outside and ignited the fire, the publisher said.
Hayes was being held without bond in the Danville City Jail, police said. A message left with a phone number listed for the suspect wasn't immediately returned. A message was left with the Danville Public Defender Office asking whether they will be representing the suspect.
"Our prayers go out to Danville City Councilman Lee Vogler who was violently attacked at his workplace earlier today," Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin said in a statement.
"We pray for a swift recovery for Lee and for peace to be on the entire Danville community."
Brooks said he had no indication Vogler felt unsafe at work or elsewhere. Vogler is a salesperson at the magazine, though at the small-city media company, everyone does a bit a bit of everything.
"He makes sales, but he also writes stories about our community," Brooks said.
Brooks said that comes naturally to Vogler.
"His passion is being on the city council," Brooks said. "He loves when people call them with a concern that he can help them with, and he has been an asset to the community for much of his adult life. He was young when he got on city council, early 20s. He has made that his life."
Brooks said outside of work, Vogler is dedicated parent to his two children.
"He's the one who coaches their sports teams," Brooks said.
Danville is about 230km north of Charlotte, North Carolina.
3°C