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<\/a>\r\n\r\n\r\nPaige Dukes, County Clerk, Lunch and Learn, 2011-10-13<\/a>\r\n<\/p>\r\n
\r\nChris Herbert, Valdosta Daily Times, 14 July 2020,\r\n\r\nDukes named Lowndes County Manager<\/a>,\r\n \r\nThe vote was a split decision, 3-2, with commissioners Joyce Evans,\r\nClay Griner and Scottie Orenstein voting in favor. Demarcus Marshall\r\nand Mark Wisenbaker opposed.\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\nMarshall said his no vote was because he wanted to see the position\r\nadvertised to open the pool up to other candidates.\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n“I would expect no less than to have this position advertised,”\r\nMarshall said. “To advertise it is saying, ‘we’re not just the good\r\nole boys system or good ole girls system.'”\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\nWisenbaker said he wanted to see a “fresh” perspective from county\r\nleadership and hoped a broader search could provide some new\r\noutlooks for the county’s future.\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n“I voted no because I think the citizens of Lowndes County need to\r\nbe better represented. We need to advertise this job…There’s\r\nnothing personal against Ms. Dukes. She’s been here a while. She\r\ndoes a good job. It’s just being able to look out there and see what\r\nwe may be missing,” he said. “We got a $120 million budget. That’s\r\nnot small and we need the right people and the right person to carry\r\nthis on. And we need fresh ideas. We need a fresh person, in my\r\nopinion, that can bring new things to the table.”\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\nThose two were in the minority, however, and the three in support\r\nsaid they are certain Dukes is the right decision.\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n“I’ve been on this board for six years, and\r\n\r\n Paige has proven herself\r\nwithout a shadow of a doubt that she can do that job,” Griner said.\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\nHe made the motion to hire Dukes for the job and voted in favor,\r\nsaying he has full confidence in her abilities and cited staff\r\nmorale as a reason to maintain continuity.\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\nOrenstein said he thinks Dukes is the only option and the right\r\nchoice to lead the county government.\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n“There’s nobody that cares about Lowndes County more than Paige\r\nDukes and her connection to this community,” he said. “When you know\r\nsomebody has the honesty, integrity and commitment to the community,\r\npassion for what they do, there is no other option.”\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\nFrom watching her time working for the county over the past two\r\ndecades, Evans agreed that Dukes was the way to go. “I have\r\nwatched her grow through her time in several capacities in Lowndes\r\nCounty government,” Evans said.\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\nEven if the county had decided to open the position to other\r\ncandidates, the commission already had “anointed” Dukes, Wisenbaker\r\nalleged.\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n“This decision’s been made months ago. These people who voted yes\r\ntonight had already made up their minds months ago,” Wisenbaker\r\nsaid. “They’re not willing to look at anything new looking to the\r\nfuture in my opinion.”\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\nGriner did not disagree with that notion, saying that a six month\r\nprocess would not have swayed his decision about Dukes being the\r\nright choice for Lowndes.\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n“I think my mind was made up already. We could look for six months\r\nor a year and gotten every application that was out there that could\r\nbe had, and it wouldn’t have changed my mind,” he said. “Aug. 1,\r\nPaige has to prove herself.”\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\nOrenstein echoed Griner about his belief in Dukes as the only choice\r\nto replace Pritchard. “I just could not imagine anyone else in that\r\nrole for us. So, yeah, my mind was made up as well,” he said.\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\nAlthough Slaughter, as chairman, did not cast a vote he voiced his\r\nsupport of Dukes after the executive session concluded and also\r\nsuggested that a six-month job search could not replace the\r\nfamiliarity she has with Lowndes County government.\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\nDukes will have two and a half weeks before taking the mantle and\r\nleading county departments. Regardless of how people voted, Dukes\r\nsaid she already spoke with all commissioners and was ready to work\r\nwith all parties to push Lowndes forward.\r\n<\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n \r\nWell, there are some things various parties can work on in the near future.\r\n \r\nAnd this probably explains something that happened back on December 9, 2020:\r\n \r\nThen Commissioner Clay Griner\r\n\r\nmoved to go into Executive Session<\/a> to discuss personnel.\r\nChairman Bill Slaughter reminded him the Commission has only one employee.\r\nGriner agreed, and they went into Executive Session.\r\nThe one employee is the County Manager.\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\nHappy retirement, Joe Pritchard.\r\n \r\nLooking forward to working with you, Paige Dukes.\r\n \r\nSee also\r\n\r\nPacket: Budget, MIDS, Rezoning, Clyattstone Road, Mosquito, Law, Fiber Optic, Alcohol @ LCC 2020-07-13<\/a>.\r\n\r\n
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<\/a>\r\n
\r\nClay Griner \r\n\r\noved for executive session, 2019-12-09<\/a>\r\n<\/p>\r\n