Escambia Hires New Administrator

September 18, 2010

Charles “Randy” Oliver has been approved as the new Escambia County administrator.

The Escambia County Commissioner voted unanimously Friday to hire Oliver, who said he will be able to start work by November 1. His maximum salary will be $145,000.

Oliver most recently (2008-March 2010) served as city manager in Surprise, Arizona, a city of 118,000 citizens, 850 employees and an annual budget of $300 million. According to The Arizona Republic newspaper, he was fired on the spot on a 4-3 vote by the Surprise Town Council without giving any real reason. The four council members that voted to terminate Oliver issued the following statement:

When former City Manager Oliver was hired, his skills and personality aligned with the needs of the City at that time. Over the last two years, Surprise has undergone many dramatic changes and felt the economic downturn that has impacted communities nationwide. As the City has gone through these growing pains, the focus and direction of the City has changed as well. Mr. Oliver has provided adequate service during much of this time period, but our City needs to move in a different direction.

From 2003 to 2008, Oliver was city manager in Peoria, Illinois, a town of 120,000 residents, 850 employees and budget of $250 million. He resigned at a press conference without the Peoria mayor or city council, according to The Peoria Chronicle:

When asked why he’s leaving, he responded by saying, “I have other things I want to do.” When asked “what other things,” he said “consulting.” Later in the conference he elaborated, saying that he used to do consulting work and enjoyed it, but it required him to travel a lot. Since he had young children at the time, all the traveling wasn’t so good. Now that his kids are grown, his wife can travel with him when he does consulting work.

Oliver was the city manager in Greenville, South Carolina from 1999 to 2003 before resigning.
From 1996 to 1999 he worked to consolidate the City of Augusta, Georgia, and Richmond County. He resigned to accept the job in Greenville, South Carolina, “after years of bickering” according to The Augusta Chronicle.

Oliver served as assistant county manager and assistant for special projects in Polk County, Florida, from 1991 to 1996.  He was fired from that position, according to The Augusta Chronicle:

“I was never asked to resign,” he said. “I was terminated from a technical point of view from Lee County…Frankly, probably, the majority of the board – I’m sure the majority of the board in Lee county – would like to have me back,” he said.

Comments

9 Responses to “Escambia Hires New Administrator”

  1. Bob on September 19th, 2010 4:04 pm

    What more can you say about the inept group of five that is in control. Hopefully we can focus on the remaining four and get rid of them, one just slipped back in for four more years.

  2. Robert hudson on September 19th, 2010 11:11 am

    Great! here we go again.

  3. Surprise AZ on September 19th, 2010 9:07 am

    He’s your problem now!

  4. citizen on September 19th, 2010 12:33 am

    Esc’ Co’ Goverment stinks. If this man were to apply for a job within the private sector, he wouldn’t be hired. He’s either left on his own, made to leave or just plain out fired. It only goes to show how screwed up the BCC really is. Why didn’t they just leave Newsom in the slot and let him cont’ to fake it. Hell, it won’t take but about a month for this guy to be one of the boys. Think about it, they pay him, do you think he’s going to buck them? Not at all. This county will never change.

  5. Robert hudson on September 18th, 2010 10:09 am

    Well if he thinks that he can side with the city in pushing a consolidation attempt, He is going to find himself dead wrong, and on the short end of the stick, with the county. Alot of us do not and never will want to join with the city of pensacola. But if he does start, we need to put him on notice.

  6. Name (required) on September 18th, 2010 8:23 am

    Why on earth would they hire someone with such a record?

  7. molino jim on September 18th, 2010 6:45 am

    My God–what a track record. What will it cost to get rid of him in a few months?

  8. Oversight on September 18th, 2010 2:44 am

    From Oliver’s track record, we should only expect about two years of service, if that much, before he either moves on or is sent on down the road.

  9. Jim on September 18th, 2010 1:57 am

    So – Charles ” Randy” Oliver has experience with CONSOLIDATING a city and county government! Sure moves around a lot…..

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News