JACKSON (AP) — The Madison County Board of Supervisors plans to interview four candidates Monday for the vacant position of county administrator.
The Clarion-Ledger reported the county received 479 applications for the position.
The position has been vacant since David Overby left in June for unspecified reasons.
County Comptroller Shelton Vance is serving as interim county administrator until the board makes a hire.
“We’re looking for a person to come in that will be able to work with the supervisors to help move projects forward,” said Gerald Steen, the board’s president. “(We want) them to take a stance to get things done and help us manage our budget. They’ll need to know how to lead others and encourage others to do the job well and try to improve where we’re falling short.”
Vance did not apply for the administrator job. Since there was a possibility he might, however, the application process was handed over to Chancery Clerk Arthur Johnston.
Johnston said none of the four being interviewed is an internal candidate but all are from Mississippi.
He narrowed the 479 applications — mostly from Mississippi residents — down to 10 before handing them over to the board.
Board members will interview their four picks starting at 2 p.m. on Monday.
Johnston said the administrator’s main responsibility will be managing budgets, so he looked for candidates with the educational background and experience to handle that.
The board members will make the final decision, he said. No timeline has been set for the hire. If the board is not satisfied with the interviews, Johnston said members can interview more candidates.
Steen said he’s looking for the candidate who is best suited for the Madison County administrator position.
“They’ll definitely be busy. It has to be a person that understands leadership but still gets (in there to make sure) the different projects and issues get done,” he said.
