Current county manager, Joe Cone

This week Baker County commissioners will review 62 resumes from applicants seeking to replace County Manager Joe Cone, who announced his retirement last April.

Among the hopefuls are eight men and one woman with ties to Baker County, either by residence or employment. They include engineers, business professionals, government workers and small business owners.

Commissioners haven’t voiced a preference as to whether the next county manager should be required to live here, but rather that he or she is qualified for the job.

The position requires a bachelor’s degree and six years of senior level management experience, according to an advertisement for the vacancy.

All the local candidates appear to have the requisite management experience. Two resumes, however, don’t list bachelor’s degrees — those of IT logistics director Greg Sheppard and property manager Cherill Mobley.

The campaign trail

District 4 Baker County Commission candidates Adam Giddens and Donnie Starling survived their primary election bids August 24 and will meet in the general election November 4.

Democrats Michael Conner and Chris Rhoden were eliminated along with Republican Jeana Duval from the commission race.

Republican Jimmy Anderson will face incumbent commissioner Alex Robinson, a Democrat, for the District 2 seat. They were not included on the partisan primary ballots.

Video clips of the remaining commission candidates speeches during The Press' 2010 election forum can be viewed here.

Tuesday’s election also resulted in two new school board members.

Artie Burnett defeated longtime school board member Paul Raulerson in the District 4 race by only 171 votes.

Jesse Davis took the District 3 school board seat by an even slimmer 52-vote margin, beating fellow political newcomer Tina Mobley.