Commissioners should conduct nationwide search for new leader

Editorial

Now that Hernando County commissioners have decided to let the county administrator go, it's once again time to look for another one.

We believe that it would serve the best interests of the taxpayers of Hernando to do a nationwide search. With that in mind, it makes sense to form a committee of competent citizens to assist in the review of applicants along with the human resource director, who will only provide the technical expertise, to reduce the number of applicants for the BOCC the review

We do not believe that looking within the county organization is the most prudent approach as many of our government problems have been a direct result of staff and county administrator conflicts.

We do need a person with a proven record of accomplishment and a strong appreciation of subordinate's input built on a foundation of mutual respect. In addition it must be abundantly clear that the new administrator's allegiance must be first and foremost to the betterment of the county taxpayers.

There are many competent people who have demonstrated their ability to lead various governments and in the current economic situation we should be able to find one who is willing to make the move to Hernando.

It would do the BOCC well if they would desist from talk about lowering the salary of the new administrator until they have consulted with their human resource director before they draw up the employment advertisement.

This is an important issue and the BOCC should go about it in a very serious and businesslike manner.