Georgetown, Del., March 22, 2011: The process to select Sussex County government‟s top appointed official continues to move forward, and County leaders are hopeful they will make a decision in public session sometime within the next 30 days on who will succeed retiring County Administrator David Baker.

Mr. Baker, at the Tuesday, March 22, 2011, meeting of County Council, provided an update to the public on the process thus far to find Sussex County‟s next County Administrator. Since Mr. Baker announced in January his planned retirement this spring, County Council authorized President Michael Vincent to appoint a „selection committee‟ and begin a local, regional and nationwide search for candidates.

Following that search, Mr. Baker said eight applicants were interviewed by the selection committee. The committee comprised the full five-member Council, Mr. Baker, County Attorney J. Everett Moore, and Personnel Director Karen Brewington. The selection committee met as County Council in executive session to interview the eight applicants on Feb. 22 and Feb. 23, as was permitted by Delaware law.

During the interviews, all of the candidates were asked a series of questions relating to their experience and the duties of County Administrator. Mr. Baker noted that the questions were devised by staff, asked by one staff member in the interviews, with some follow-up questions posed by committee members.

“At this time, no decision has been made regarding the replacement for County Administrator,” Mr. Baker said. “… Any decision regarding filling the County Administrator position will be made in open session of the County Council with discussion regarding the candidates.”

The County Administrator is the chief administrative officer, and is responsible for managing a staff of nearly 500 County employees and directing the day-to-day operations of the local government. Under Delaware Code, the County Administrator is appointed by County Council and serves at the Council‟s pleasure. The Administrator is responsible for, among other duties, making recommendations to the County Council, preparing and submitting the annual budget, and carrying out the policies and laws set forth by the Council.

Mr. Baker has tentatively set May 31 as his retirement date, but has told County Council he will continue in the job, as necessary, to train his successor.

County officials expect to resume their discussions in public session during the next County Council meeting, at 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 29, at the County Administrative Offices building in Georgetown.

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