One of the two finalists, James Freed, withdrew his name from consideration, which put a halt to Ottawa County’s search for a new administrator. “This is where we want to raise our two little girls,” said Freed, the current city manager of Port Huron, who attributed his decision to remain in his current position to his strong family ties and sense of purpose. No promotion or pay increase can alter the reality. Additionally, according to FOX 17 News, Freed wrote in a letter to commissioners, “I think that God has put us here for this particular time.”
The Executive Transition Committee’s next steps are unclear after a second interview session was canceled last Friday, but Ottawa County Chairperson Joe Moss assured FOX 17 that they plan to “continue the hiring process and interviewing Lower.” James Lower, the Village Manager of Sparta and a now-single finalist with experience in both county and state government, is still in the running for the job.
The Executive Transition Committee of the county was compelled to reevaluate its options due to the sudden withdrawal. According to Holland Sentinel, following the first round of interviews, a number of applicants were initially eliminated from consideration, including Ionia County Administrator Patrick Jordan and Security Credit Union CEO Christopher Estes. Citing reservations about their experience with municipal recruiting, Freed had refused to take part in some of the tests administered by the search firm W Talent Solutions. These problems, along with Freed’s sudden withdrawal from the race, have put the committee in a difficult situation. In order to comply with state law, which restricts the chosen candidate to a one-year contract unless the commissioners wait until January when the new board is installed, they must carefully manage the administrative transition’s complications.
Following the resignation of Jon Anderson, who took over as administrator after John Gibbs was fired in February, Benjamin Wetmore is acting in the interim. According to WHTC, Wetmore’s term is only temporary until a new administrator is appointed. This short-term stewardship highlights the position’s transient nature and presents special opportunities and challenges for leadership in Ottawa County as it awaits the arrival of the new county commissioners assembly in January.
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