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Hernando Today

County Bosses Woo Jennings For Top Spot

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Michael D. Bates

Published: January 16, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - BROOKSVILLE - County commissioners have made no secret

they want Larry Jennings as their county administrator.

Even before former administrator Gary Kuhl resigned in

November, they told then-deputy administrator Jennings

the job was his if he wanted it.

Jennings politely declined but offered to serve as

interim administrator while the board conducted a

nationwide search.

Impressed by Jennings' role as interim boss the last

two months, commissioners asked him again Tuesday to

reconsider and save the county the effort of going

through the county administrator interview process,

which begins Tuesday.

County Commissioner Jeff Stabins jokingly quipped at

the end of Tuesday's long board meeting that Jennings

could save the county some ink by not having to keep

typing the word interim in front of his title.

But Jennings answer remains the same. Thanks, but no

thanks.

"I appreciate his kind comments," Jennings said

Wednesday. "I told him what my thoughts were when they

started the advertising for this process and I've not

changed that."

Stabins said he decided to again tender the offer to

Jennings because he has proven himself in the last two

months that he is the person for the job.

Jennings was the one who finally pressed for a solution

and got all the stakeholders together to figure out a

solution to the judicial space crunch, Stabins said.

On Tuesday, Commissioners voted to start work on a new

judicial center, ending years of debate.

Stabins also praised Jennings for his prompt handling

of a sticky personnel problem involving Human Resources

Director Barbara Dupre that threatened to escalate into

a major controversy.

Jennings suspended Dupre for five days without pay for

failing to timely file a disciplinary notice regarding

candidate campaigning and for accusing County

Commissioner Diane Rowden of being involved in the

finding of those cards in Dupre's office.

"We need him," Stabins said of Jennings. "We need his

steady hand right now. He can do the job."

Rowden agreed.

"What better person to be in charge right now than

Larry?" she asked.

Rowden said the business of the county has run smoothly

since Jennings assumed his interim post.

"We're getting some things done (and) it's been a real

positive direction," she said.

Jennings assumed his interim duties Nov. 10, when Kuhl,

citing a negative community attitude, stepped down.

Kuhl is now public works director for Sumter County.

Commissioners hope to have a permanent county

administrator on board by March 1.

County Commission Chairman Chris Kingsley said at least

the county will have Jennings' expertise as deputy

administrator.

"Larry Jennings is a tremendous asset to this county,"

Commissioner David Russell said. "I wouldn't want to

lose his institutional knowledge and know-how. But I

respect his decision in not wanting to be a permanent

administrator."

Russell also sees a silver lining.

"If the next guy doesn't work out, we've got Larry," he

said."

Commissioners will interview three candidates for

county administrator on Tuesday. They are:

Tom Marko, development coordinator for Miami-Dade

County.

David Hamilton, administrator for Crow Wing Minn.

Kathy Rice, assistant city manager, Surprise, Ariz.,

since March 2004.

Commissioner Rose Rocco said she and her colleagues are

not bound by the decisions of the selection committee

that short-listed the three candidates.

In fact, she has pulled the original 30-plus

applications to see if one candidate "jumps out at her.

"I'm looking for someone who has some strong leadership

skills," she said.

Rocco said she intends to take her time in looking for

Kuhl's replacement.

"This is an important decision," Rocco said. "You don't

want to jump and make a hasty choice."

County commissioners will interview the three

candidates for county administrator from 9 a.m. to noon

Tuesday, Jan. 22, in the county commissioners' meeting

room, first floor, Hernando County Government Center,

20 N. Main St. in Brooksville.

Commissioners will interview each candidate separately

from 1 to 4 p.m. later that day.

A public reception for all three candidates will be

held from 5 to 6 p.m. Jan. 22 in the government center

atrium.

Reporter Michael D. Bates can be reached at

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