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Commission veteran gets county post
By BRIDGET HALL GRUMET, Times Staff Writer INVERNESS -- It seems Brad Thorpe couldn't stay away. The former county commissioner decided this week to return to Citrus County government -- this time as the director of the Department of Community Services, a section that oversees the county libraries, parks, transit system, veterans' services and other support services. County Administrator Richard Wesch, Assistant County Administrator Ken Saunders and Human Resources Director Richard Petitt chose Thorpe out of 32 applicants, including three county employees. If the County Commission -- including four of Thorpe's former colleagues -- confirms him Tuesday, Thorpe would start Jan. 11 and earn $64,000 a year. Thorpe did not return a call Wednesday for comment. Thorpe would replace Heidi Denis, who left the post last month to become Osceola County's community services administrator, and oversee about 130 employees and numerous programs, ranging from the canning center to in-home respite care. "Having lived and worked in this community for the past 23 years I believe I have an in-depth understanding of the relationship between County Government and the citizens it serves in the area of library services, social services and leisure services," Thorpe, a program manager at Central Florida Community College, wrote in his application for the job. County officials said Thorpe's education, experience and knowledge of the community -- not his status as a former commissioner -- made him the leading candidate. "If you know (Thorpe), you know the enthusiasm he brings to anything he tackles," Wesch said Wednesday. "We'll look to that enthusiasm to permeate the entire department." Thorpe has worked for Central Florida Community College for eight years, most recently as the manager of continuing education and corporate training. He also served two terms on the County Commission from 1992 to 2000. After receiving his master's degree in educational leadership in 1999, Thorpe decided to focus on his private-sector career and not seek a third term on the County Commission. Although he made no mention of it in his cover letter, Thorpe's experience as a county commissioner may give him a special appreciation for the budget constraints and political pressures faced by his new bosses. Thorpe may also better understand what his new bosses expect of him. Department heads often attend commission meetings to answer questions from commissioners and the public about the programs. Those insights aside, Wesch said Thorpe's experience as a commissioner did not affect the county's decision to hire him. "Just as it did not weigh in Mr. Thorpe's favor, nor should it be counted against him," Wesch said. Other finalists interviewed for the job included Bonnie Saylor, Citrus County Support Services grant administrator; Otis Long Jr., supervisor of the county's Nature Coast Volunteer Center; Georgette Brock, purchasing assistant for the county's Office of Management and Budget; Cheryl Thomas, Lake County's director of human services; Richard Perrone, family safety contract manager for the Department of Children and Families in Ocala; and Richard Noyles, Marion County's director of parks and recreation.
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