Gary Parker
BLYTHEWOOD – Town Council voted unanimously at its monthly workshop on Tuesday to hire Gary Parker, 67, of Archdale, N.C. as the Town’s new Administrator. Parker will begin work on Monday at Town Hall.
Parker retired as Town Manager of Sunset Beach, N.C., Dec. 31, 2013, where he had been employed for five years. He holds a master’s degree in public administration from N.C. State University in Raleigh.
Asked what he sees as Parker’s role as the Town’s administrator, Mayor J. Michael Ross told The Voice that Parker’s strengths are budget and grant writing.
“We are looking for both of these, and after talking to two Council members who Parker served with in the past, I think he’s the right one for our town,” Ross said. “It will take a while to find out his expertise, but we, the present Council members, are who the people elected and we’re looking for someone to administer the town. We are not looking for a visionary. We’re looking for a town administrator.”
Ross said the 40-hour-per-week job will pay $75,000 and that Parker has already taken temporary residence in 29016 and is house shopping. Parker’s wife, Debbie, who still works for the town government in Trinity, N.C., will move to Blythewood after two more years, Ross said.
Parker was one of four candidates selected as finalists from a field of 16 applicants for the position.
