St. Johns County Administrator Search Narrows

The search for a new St. Johns County administrator enters its final stretch with finalists scheduled for interviews at a public meeting Oct. 31.

Commissioners approved the list of finalists at a meeting earlier this month. The original list of five finalists was reduced to four when Scott Andrews, assistant city manager for City of Bakersfield, California, withdrew.

County Attorney David Migut briefed commissioners on the selection process at the Oct. 17 commission meeting, including the creation of a selection committee to review candidates.

“Over 100 applications were submitted,” Migut said. The list was narrowed down to a dozen proposed finalists, which were reviewed by the selection committee, with the final emerging.

Migut said while the finalists were chosen “because of their expertise and their skills,” the final decision rests with the County Commission.

“You can add additional candidates, you can delete candidates,” he said. “You have the discretion to choose whomever you want to interview.”

Migut said during the final interviews Oct. 331, each candidate will come in one at a time.

“We’ll ask the other candidates to excuse themselves from the proceeding to help protect the integrity,” he said. “We want a fair process.”

The interviews will be conducted in a group interview setting, Migut said.

The four candidates are Joy Andrews, interim county administrator for St. Johns County; Sarah Campbell, town manager for Orange Park, Florida; James Doar, county administrator for Gallatin County, Montana; and James Harriott, director of engineering – transportation for Causseaux, Hewitt, and Walpole, Inc. Professional Consultants.

The county contracted with GovHR USA, a government recruitment and management consultant, to assist with the search process.

The Oct. 31 public meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the County Auditorium on the first floor of the County Administration Building, 500 San Sebastian Way, St. Augustine.