Alton Brown of Cleveland, Ga., the Edgefield County Council’s choice to be the next county administrator, says he is definitely looking at accepting the position.

Mr. Brown, A former White County, Ga. manager who had his contract terminated following a DUI charge in July, was offered the job of county administrator in Edgefield County following a called meeting of the Edgefield County Council on Tuesday afternoon.
The Tuesday evening vote for Mr. Brown was unanimous.

Mr. Brown, reached at his home Wednesday evening, said he may take the job.

“I’m certainly leaning in that direction,” he said. “The first step is to take my wife on a tour (through Edgefield) maybe even as soon as this weekend because as the old saying goes if momma’s not happy no one is happy. So that’s the first thing.”

Mr. Brown added that he was quite taken with the fact that Council pursued him even after he had withdrawn his name from the list of candidates.

“I was extremely impressed by that,” he said. “In the short period of time I was there my impression (of the county) was very positive.”

Mr. Brown, one of the original candidates for the position vacated by former administrator John Pettigrew, Jr., had removed his name from consideration for the job after information surfaced concerning a DUI with refusal charge and a charge of open container following a traffic stop conducted by city police that occurred around 1:30 a.m. on July 11 in Cleveland.

District Two Councilman Rodney Ashcraft said Mr. Brown had the qualifications that the council was looking for in its next county administrator.

“His resume was very good and it seems like when he goes somewhere he stays there,” he said. “He was just very impressive and I think that he’ll make a good administrator. Everything he had is what we need.”

Concerning the DUI charge, Mr. Ashcraft said Council would discuss that if and when the charge actually becomes a conviction.

“He doesn’t have any prior (record) and it’s not a DUI until he’s convicted of it,” Ashcraft said. “But I’m not going to pass up the opportunity to hire such a qualified candidate. He was good. I guess we’d have to discuss all that (if he is convicted) at another meeting to see what everyone thinks. So far everything looks okay. It was close between a few (candidates), but I’m happy with the selection.”

According to the White County News, Mr. Brown – who had served as White County manager since 2003 – was placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation into the charges. White County officials contacted on Wednesday stated that following the DUI incident in July county commissioners decided to terminate his contract.

Carol Jackson took over as the White County manager when she was appointed by commissioners on October 1, 2009.

* Picture used courtesy of the White County News in Cleveland, Georgia.