Durham County chooses new leader from within after manager’s mysterious exit
Durham County didn’t look far in selecting a new county manager after the former manager’s mysterious exit last week.
The Board of Commissioners voted Monday morning to promote Interim County Manager Claudia Hager to the permanent role, forgoing a nationwide search that would have handed the decision to the newly elected board taking office in December.
Hager will be paid $295,000 a year, plus benefits, according to her contract, which has no specified time limit.
She has taken over in an acting capacity twice, most recently when former manager Kimberly Sowell went on leave in September.
Sowell resigned Oct. 28 after seven weeks of paid leave that county officials have refused to explain. The News & Observer has made numerous public records requests to the county since mid-September that remain unfulfilled.
Hager has worked for Durham County for about 14 years and was most recently a deputy county manager overseeing financial affairs. Her previous experience includes stints in financial management at N.C. Central University and the UNC System.
“She has tremendous experience in many areas, and she has been and will continue to be an asset to Durham County government,” Commissioner Wendy Jacobs said, declining to discuss the decision-making process further.
Commissioner Heidi Carter said the board did not conduct a nationwide search.
‘We didn’t go through an official process,” Carter said. “There was a sense that it was important for continuity to make a decision as quickly as possible.”
Hager will be sworn in during the commissioners’ next meeting, on Nov. 12, but her appointment is effective now.
“I was honored and humbled when the county commissioners asked me to consider stepping in permanently as the manager and provide some continuity of leadership,” she said Monday. “I appreciate the opportunity to serve.”
Board has seen turnover in manager position
The manager oversees the county’s nearly $1 billion budget and roughly 2,200 employees.
Hager is the third manager under the current Board of Commissioners.
- Wendell Davis: Contract not renewed on May 13, 2021, after seven years as manager. Davis later won $790,000 in a settlement after alleging discrimination.
- Hager: Interim for 10 months.
- Sowell: Hired March 14, 2022, and resigned without public explanation less than three years later.
- Hager: Interim manager since Sept. 24. Promoted to permanent manager Nov. 4.
The board will see turnover following this week’s election. Only two board members, Jacobs and Chair Nida Allam, will remain in office.
They will be joined by Michelle Burton, Mike Lee and Stephen Valentine, the other top vote-getters in this spring’s Democratic Party primary. Carter is retiring and did not run for re-election. Nimasheena Burns and Brenda Howerton did not receive enough votes.
“We did discuss the fact that there is going to be a new board and they won’t have all hired this manager, and it still felt like it was in the best interest to go ahead and make the decision,” Carter said.
This story was originally published November 4, 2024 at 10:40 AM.
