Dougherty County announces finalists for county manager position

ALBANY – The Dougherty County Commission has narrowed the list of candidates for the county’s vacant administrator’s position down to two, with a vote to fill the position possible later this month.

On Thursday, the county announced that the two finalists are Deron King and William “Lee” Smith III. The county enlisted the services of Colin Baenziger & Associates, based in Daytona, Fla., to conduct the search, at a cost of $38,000.

The firm whittled a list of more than 25 applicants down to five, one of whom withdrew his name at that time and another who withdrew later, leaving a pool of three who were interviewed, Commissioner Victor Edwards said.

“I think both of them are qualified,” he said. “I think both would be able to hit the ground running.”

King is the former city manager of East Point, where he played a key role in establishing an office of Equity, Inclusion & Empowerment and was dedicated to addressing homelessness and aiding in housing and utility payment assistance, according to the county. He previously worked as city manager in the Georgia cities of Forsyth, Stone Mountain and Waycross.

Smith has 35 years experience working in local government in Georgia and North Carolina, the county said. He was the manager in Chatham County from 2014 through 2022. Smith also has worked as county manager in Wayne and Washington counties in North Carolina.

“I want somebody who’s really going to work well with the staff and the existing county manager (interim County Manager Barry Brooks),” Edwards said. “I met both of them (finalists), was impressed with both of them. I’m really excited we’re moving the process forward.”

The number of applicants interested in working in the county shows “that Dougherty County is still a viable place to live, work and play,” the commissioner said. “A lot of people were thinking we would not get any candidates, and that was not the case.

“This position, to me, you’ve got to be strong. You’ve got 650 employees and a $98 million budget. I’m hoping the new administrator will be able to make some tough decisions and work with the commissioners and every one of us on the same team.”

Because he did not support the firing of former County Administrator Michael McCoy, Commissioner Anthony Jones said he is withholding comment on the two finalists at this time.

Jones, along with Commissioners Russell Gray and Ed Newsome, voted in opposition of terminating McCoy’s employment.

Edwards, along with Commissioners Gloria Gaines and Clinton Johnson and Commission Chairman Lorenzo Heard, voted to terminate McCoy on May 22, 2023.

However, after there were questions about the legality of that vote, as the issue was not on the commission agenda for that day, McCoy was reinstated on a subsequent vote two weeks later, with another vote taken immediately to again terminate his contract. That motion was approved by the same four in December 2023.

A third vote was taken on June 27, 2023, at the conclusion of a personnel hearing requested by McCoy, with that vote confirming the earlier votes with the same 4-3 majority. Gray, Jones and Newsome were in the minority in all of the votes taken to terminate McCoy.

The former administrator applied for his old position. Since his firing, he has filed a lawsuit in Dougherty County Superior Court seeking reinstatement, $5 million in damages and other unspecified damages.

“I just felt like … (because) I voted to keep the previous administrator, I don’t think I need to be voting for a new one,” Jones said. “That case hasn’t been resolved through the legal system. I wanted to keep the previous administrator, and I just think it wouldn’t be right to comment, from my perspective.”

A new administrator can be hired with four votes, Jones said. Once that occurs, he said he will work with the new hire.

“Whoever’s hired, once they’re onboard, I plan to support them,” he said. “Once they’re hired, I will support them.”

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