Board directs staff to negotiate with preferred county manager candidate after public interviews

The Jefferson County Board of Commissioners directed staff to negotiate a proposed contract with Douglas G. Bab for county manager after interviewing four finalists in public session.

County Manager candidates who addressed the board were Jeff Shoebridge, Sher M. Coffee, Richard Reid (by phone), and Douglas G. Bab. Each gave brief remarks about experience in municipal and county government; Bab emphasized financial management, execution of board policy and accessibility to commissioners.

A commissioner moved to direct the interim county manager and county attorney to negotiate a proposed contract with Douglas G. Bab; the motion was seconded and carried. Commissioner Hosford, who was not in the room, sent a text asking that his vote be recorded in favor of Bab. The board did not finalize contract terms at the meeting; the motion instructs staff to negotiate and return a proposed contract for consideration.

Bab thanked the board for the opportunity and pledged to be accessible and to prioritize fiscal oversight and transparency. Several commissioners praised all finalists, noting that the finalists brought a mix of finance, emergency management and local-government experience to the pool.

Next steps: staff will negotiate terms with Bab and return a proposed contract for board review and formal action.