County Commissioners Chairman Brent Watts was named interim county manager Monday.
Watts represents District Five on the county board. The Clarendon farmer was first elected in 2020 and was reelected in 2024. This is his first term as chair of the board. Watts and Asst. County Manager Gail Edwards will manage day to day operations while the county searches for a new full-time manager.
The county has not indicated when interviews will take place, although the job has been posted.
Commissioner Rickey Bullard made the motion to appoint Watts, with a second by Giles Byrd.
Former County Manager Eddie Madden announced his resignation in March, a day after Bullard was defeated in the primary by Jeanne McPherson for the Republican nomination for District Six. She does not face a challenger on the November ballot, and will be sworn in during the December commissioners meeting.
Shortly after Madden announced his retirement, the town of Elizabethtown announced that Madden will be returning to his previous post there as town manager. He came to Columbus in 2021 from Elizabethtown. Madden officially left the county in May.
