Oktibbeha County’s search for a new administrator will continue Feb. 17 when supervisors interview five finalists for the vacant position.
The board will hold its second regular meeting of the month at 9 a.m. and is expected to recess for lunch that day and take up interviews about 1 p.m. Supervisors will give each candidate about 30 minutes to answer questions.
Supervisors hinted at holding the interviews in executive session, thereby preventing the public from listening to the question-and-answer session. In comparison, Starkville aldermen interviewed its chief administrative officer and city clerk candidates during public sessions, and are expected to do the same at 5:30 p.m. today for police chief finalists.
County leaders also alluded to continuing the search process after the interview session by narrowing the shortlist from five to three. Since former County Administrator Don Posey’s retirement in December, Board President Orlando Trainer alluded to the informal nature of the process supervisors would utilize to find his replacement.
The board narrowed its 30-plus candidate pool to five finalists last month after discussing the matter in executive session. The five finalists are: Oktibbeha County Comptroller Emily Garrard, Union County Administrator Terry Johnson, former Starkville CAO Lynn Spruill, Adcare Healthcare Regional Vice President John Thomas and Ivory Williams, Jackson’s former deputy housing and community development director.
The position became vacant when Posey retired last year, taking with him almost 20 years of institutional knowledge and leadership. The board absorbed many of his primary job functions and will tend to those throughout the vacancy, Trainer previously said.
Garrard has served as the county’s comptroller since 2002. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Mississippi State University.
Johnson became Union County’s administrator and inventory clerk in 1999 after working 16 years with the Mississippi State Auditor’s Office. He holds an accounting degree from the University of Mississippi.
Spruill held Starkville’s highest appointed management position from 2005 until she was relieved by aldermen in July. She holds a law degree and a master’s degree in public administration from Georgia State University.
Thomas currently serves in his role as regional manager for the health system.
Williams’ previous job functions included managing and administering Jackson’s external sources of funding.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
