Escambia Votes To Hire Jack Brown As County Administrator

April 10, 2014

The Escambia County Commission voted Thursday to hire Taylor County Administrator Jack Brown as the new Escambia County administrator. The county has been without an administrator for about 18 months.

On a motion by Commissioner Grover Robinson, the commission voted to hire Brown 5-0.

The commission offered Brown the job with a one year contact with three month severance clause. Negotiations with Brown will begin immediately; he still has to formally accept the job.

Commissioner Wilson Robertson made an unsuccessful motion to drop all theĀ  candidates for administrator prior to the vote to hire Brown. Robertson had continued to support the hiring of Interim Administrator Larry Newsom as the permanent administrator.

After retirement from the Army in 1996, Brown served Taylor County as the director of human resources, county coordinator and county manager. In January 2001 he was hired as the general manager of RDS Manufacturing Company, a position he held for 18 months prior to being recruited as a faculty member at Florida State University.

While at FSU, he was elected as a Taylor County County commissioner . In the summer of 2006 he announced that he would not seek a second term. In January 2007, he resigned from FSU and returned to serve Taylor County as the county administrator.

Comments

11 Responses to “Escambia Votes To Hire Jack Brown As County Administrator”

  1. jeeperman on April 11th, 2014 4:09 pm

    The vote was technically a yes to offer him the job.
    i.e. Mr. Brown might say no thanks.
    This vote is to offer him the job and start contract negotiations.

  2. bartender on April 11th, 2014 4:00 am

    atleast we don’t have to put up with mr.newson,someone that only give some people raises and not the people that does the labor.they still new to clean house with some of them. good luck and don’t become the good ole boys. maybe he will care about the people that really does the labor work instead of sitting behind the desk eating donuts. please consider the labors of the county so we don’t have to live on food stamps and forclosed houses like the low paying labor jobs.

  3. Jacqueline Rogers on April 10th, 2014 8:54 pm

    Mr. Penska,
    That is really classy of you and I wish you the best as you were also a favored candidate.

    Congratulations, Mr. Brown!
    Welcome to Escambia County! And thank you for your service. Hooah! It will serve you well here. :)

    After 18-19 months of messing around with this decision, it is time for the BCC to move on to other important issues. Thank you to Commissioners Barry, May, and Robinson for listening to the citizens and sticking with the process!

    The citizens are engaged and hopeful that Escambia County can move forward.

  4. molino jim on April 10th, 2014 8:29 pm

    Wish you luck Mr Brown. As for Wilson he’ll soon be gone and that is a plus for the county–now if Gene would get mad and leave the BCC the county just might be able to move forward.

  5. Job Security on April 10th, 2014 7:33 pm

    My advice to him….Rent a house month to month. Don’t buy one!
    He may be a great man, but moving and uprooting a family to come to a job in Escambia County Politics and one that is only promised for a year….I’d rethink that.

  6. R.H. on April 10th, 2014 4:43 pm

    Finally! Good luck to Mr. Brown !

  7. JSCS on April 10th, 2014 3:08 pm

    Congrats to Mr. Brown. Hope he comes with a full suit of armor. He will need it.

    Now if we could just “drop” Wilson the rest may be able to get something accomplished.

  8. Molino on April 10th, 2014 2:14 pm

    Well, I agree. Poor Mr. Brown. Don’t burn your bridges !

  9. well on April 10th, 2014 12:58 pm

    Poor Mr. Brown…..

  10. A. Penksa on April 10th, 2014 12:57 pm

    Congratulations to the Commissioners. They made an excellent choice by selecting Jack with a 5-0 vote. Escambia County offers much and with this decision behind them, collectively they will reach new heights. Best Wishes!

  11. E on April 10th, 2014 12:43 pm

    WOW….That was quick.