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Manager will need smarts, integrity

By ANDREW SKERRITT
Published November 20, 2005

John Gallagher was hired as Pasco County administrator in 1982. He's still at it.

In the topsy-turvy world of municipal government, Gallagher's tenure stands out.

But despite his longevity, Gallagher is always mindful of how tenuous his employment status can be.

"I kept my teaching certificate active for years," said Gallagher, a graduate of Saint Leo University and later American University. "I never wanted to be a traveling administrator."

Administrators, like newspaper reporters, move from place to place in search of better government to improve.

Many new administrators make the same mistake:

"They don't take enough time to find out the political dynamics of a community," Gallagher said. "They feel the sudden surge to make changes."

Often the romance sours after a few years, then they move on. Optimism and good intentions are constant motivators.

Gallagher is full of both.

"I consider myself to be very lucky - a New Port Richey boy. I grew up here. For somebody who grew up in this area to be the county administrator," he said, "that makes me happy. I really love my job."

His employers must love him, too. Pasco County commissioners recently renewed his contract for another four years.

Gallagher's personal and professional story comes to mind as Hernando County continues its search for a county administrator.

The incumbent Gary Adams quit after less than 18 months citing "a widespread negative attitude and perception concerning Hernando County government." He's leaving Dec. 16 to return to Illinois to become village administrator in Oswego, Ill.

With Adams' departure, Hernando County is losing its fourth administrator in six years.

Some civic minded locals have said that the answer to the churn in administrators is finding someone local, someone who knows the area already. They point to Hernando school superintendent Wendy Tellone as an example of local talent working out. Gallagher's experience as a local person who succeeded in his hometown seems to strengthen that argument.

Unfortunately, of the 44 applicants for the job, none is from within Hernando County government. Planning director Larry Jennings, who is serving as interim administrator, didn't apply for the job even though some county commissioners clearly wished he would.

Among the contenders of note are the Port Richey City Manager Jerry Calhoun. Former Citrus County Administrator Gary Kuhl, who lives in Floral City, also is a candidate.

None of last year's finalists reapplied. I'm not sure that's good news.

A citizens committee is expected to begin reviewing applications and resumes. County Human Resources director Barbara Dupre said county commissioners hope to have the job filled by the end of January.

In the absence of a strong local contender, the next administrator will be someone new to the community. That person will have a lot to learn.

Conventional wisdom holds that for anybody who comes to work in Florida, in order to be successful, you have to be connected. That means you have to have friends in the right places - people who will do things for you because you asked. In Hernando, finding those friends isn't easy.

That's why Hernando should pick the smartest person, and that's not necessarily the candidate with the longest, most impressive resume.

But beyond smarts, the job demands a person with integrity. Adams had both. His successor shouldn't expect to get by with anything less.

Andrew Skerritt can be reached at 813 909-4602 or toll-free at 1-800-333-7505, ext. 4602. His e-mail address is askerritt@sptimes.com

[Last modified November 20, 2005, 00:54:20]